Overview
- Investigators say a United Boeing 737-8 cruising near Moab, Utah on Oct. 16 suffered a cracked multi-layer windshield after a midair collision that showered the cockpit with glass and led to a safe diversion to Salt Lake City.
- The NTSB preliminary report points to a WindBorne global sounding balloon as the likely object, noting the balloon’s track matched the jet’s path and that the company lost contact minutes before the 6:43 a.m. impact.
- The damaged windshield was removed for analysis at the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and the cockpit voice and flight data recorders were sent to the agency’s Vehicle Recorder Laboratory as the investigation continues.
- WindBorne’s balloons are made from thin plastic without large metal or high-stiffness structures, yet the strike fractured the outer pane while the inner structural pane held pressure, consistent with windshields certified to withstand a four‑pound bird without penetration.
- WindBorne says it has reduced time at commercial flight levels, added automated airspace alerts and two‑hour status reports, connected ADS‑B data to support avoidance, and is cutting payload mass through design changes and lower‑density ballast.