Overview
- The Embraer E175 operating for United departed George Bush Intercontinental around 12:20 p.m. Sunday and returned to the gate about 1 p.m. after the first officer’s windshield shattered.
- Pilots reported multiple pieces of glass falling into the cockpit, which indicates several layers of the multi-layer windshield were damaged even though the cabin remained pressurized.
- The crew followed standard emergency procedures to return to the airport and the Houston Fire Department inspected the aircraft and declared it safe.
- No injuries were reported and Mesa Airlines re-accommodated passengers on a replacement aircraft that later landed in El Paso at 3:14 p.m.
- The FAA and NTSB have been notified and are investigating whether an external strike, a material defect or another factor caused the failure, with officials noting modern windshields are built in layers to protect pressurization.