Daijiworld Media Network - Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, Oct 19: A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight en route from Denver to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing after its windshield cracked midair, leaving one of the pilots injured.

The incident occurred on October 16 during flight UA1093, which was carrying 140 passengers and crew members. The aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet when the cockpit windshield suddenly cracked, prompting the pilots to descend to 26,000 feet and divert to Salt Lake City International Airport.

The plane landed safely, and all passengers were later rebooked on another aircraft — a Boeing 737 MAX 9 — to continue their journey to Los Angeles after a six-hour delay.

Images circulating online reportedly show scorch marks on the damaged windshield and bruises on one pilot’s arm, suggesting that the crack may not have been caused by a routine structural failure. Aviation experts have speculated that a high-velocity object, possibly space debris or a small meteorite, could have struck the windshield mid-flight.

Aircraft windshields are typically built to withstand severe pressure changes and even bird strikes, but certain high-speed impacts can exceed those safety limits.

United Airlines confirmed that no passengers were injured and stated that the pilot suffered only minor bruising. The airline has yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the incident, while aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the rare mid-air occurrence.