A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX experienced a serious in-flight incident when an object struck the cockpit windshield at high altitude, injuring one pilot. The flight, designated UA1093, was traveling from Denver to Los Angeles when it was forced to divert to Salt Lake City due to the damage.
Incident Overview
The occurrence took place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet. The plane was south of Salt Lake City when the windshield was impacted, leading to a descent to 26,000 feet before making the diversion.
Details of the Damage
Images shared by aviation analyst JonNYC revealed significant damage to the cockpit windshield, including scorch and impact marks suggestive of a foreign object. Reports indicate that the pilot sustained abrasions consistent with injuries from shattered glass.
- Flight Code: UA1093
- Date: October 16, 2025
- Aircraft Type: Boeing 737 MAX 8
- Registration: N17327
- Origin: Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Destination: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Diversion: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Response from United Airlines
United Airlines confirmed that the flight landed safely in Salt Lake City. The airline promptly arranged for another aircraft to transport the 140 passengers to Los Angeles later that day. The airline assured that the damaged plane would undergo a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the cracked windshield.
Potential Causes of Windshield Damage
While pilot injuries and windshield crack occurrences are rare, several theories are being considered:
- Impact from foreign object debris (FOD)
- Electrical arcing malfunction causing burn marks
- Large hail strike (unlikely at cruising altitude)
There is speculation that the object may have been meteorite or space debris. If confirmed, this event would mark a historical first of space debris impacting a commercial aircraft.
Concerns Over Space Debris
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) previously indicated that the risk of space debris affecting aircraft is minimal. Despite this, the increasing amount of space junk, with over 36,000 tracked objects, raises ongoing concerns about air travel safety.
Aircraft Details
The involved Boeing 737 MAX 8, with registration N17327, is relatively new to the fleet, having been delivered in December 2023. The aircraft can accommodate 166 passengers in a dual-class configuration, with business seats and a larger economy section.
As of now, the damaged aircraft remains grounded as investigations proceed. United Airlines continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of its operations and passengers.
