Weather Balloon Shatters Windshield of Plane Mid-Flight in Terrifying Incident

A United Airlines flight narrowly escaped disaster when a rogue weather balloon smashed into the plane at 36,000 feet, shattering the windshield and showering the cockpit with shards of glass.

The terrifying incident happened on October 16 as the Boeing 737 MAX 8 cruised over Utah. The captain, hit by flying glass, suffered multiple cuts and was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, while the first officer and 111 passengers miraculously escaped injury.

According to a new report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the mystery object was a WindBorne Systems global sounding balloon. It had launched from Spokane, Washington, the day before, drifting south over Nevada before looping back north into Utah.

The balloon, designed to minimize damage in a collision, still caused major damage to the aircraft’s multi-layered windshield. Aircraft windshields are built to withstand a four-pound bird strike, but the impact of the balloon sent glass flying across the cockpit. Harrowing images shared online show the captain’s arm bruised and bleeding, with shards covering the dashboard and controls.

The NTSB report describes the moment of impact: the captain spotted a mysterious object on the horizon, but before he could warn his first officer, the balloon slammed into the jet with a “loud bang.” Despite the violent collision, the cabin held pressure, and the crew safely diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport.

In response, WindBorne Systems announced four new safety measures to prevent similar mid-air collisions, including reducing the time balloons spend in commercial airspace, improving air traffic alerts, creating collision-avoidance algorithms, and decreasing the balloons’ mass to minimize potential damage.

“We are deeply relieved that Flight UA 1093 landed safely and with minimal damage,” the company said. “This incident has reinforced our commitment to continuous improvement.”

The NTSB investigation into the collision is still ongoing.