A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 en route from Denver to Los Angeles made an emergency landing after an unidentified object struck its windshield at 36,000 feet, injuring one of the pilots.
United Flight 1093, with 134 passengers and six crew members, was diverted to Salt Lake City on Thursday, where it landed safely, the airline confirmed. The jet remains grounded for inspection.
The impact shattered the multilayered cockpit glass, leaving one pilot bloodied and bruised as glass fragments spread across the controls. Images shared online show the pilot’s arms cut and bruised, with broken glass and scorch marks visible in the cockpit.
In a statement, United Airlines said, “On Thursday, United Flight 1093 landed safely in Salt Lake City to address damage to its multilayered windshield. We arranged for another aircraft to take customers to Los Angeles later that day, and our maintenance team is working to return the aircraft to service.” The airline added that its windshields are built to remain functional even if a layer is damaged.
Flight data indicates the incident occurred on October 16 while cruising, prompting the plane to descend to 26,000 feet before landing. Passengers were later transferred to another aircraft and reached Los Angeles after a six-hour delay.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the impact. Some experts have speculated it could be space debris or a meteor, though this remains unconfirmed. The episode has sparked concerns over high-altitude debris and the durability of aircraft windshields.
