Overview
- United flight UA1093 from Denver to Los Angeles diverted to Salt Lake City after an object struck the cockpit windshield at cruise altitude, lightly injuring a pilot.
- The aircraft, a 737 MAX 8 carrying 134 passengers and six crew, landed safely and passengers continued to Los Angeles on another plane.
- The object remains unidentified as early media theories referenced space debris or a small meteorite, and the flight captain described something resembling space debris, according to reports.
- The NTSB said it is collecting radar, meteorological and flight-recording data and has sent the damaged windshield to agency laboratories, with a preliminary report expected in the coming weeks under standard protocol.
- WindBorne Systems’ CEO said a long-duration meteorological balloon from the company may have been involved and reported submitting preliminary findings to the NTSB and FAA, adding that the firm is lowering balloon operating altitudes and accelerating real-time tracking upgrades.