The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Sunday that it is investigating an incident in which the windshield of a United Airlines flight was struck by an unidentified object while flying over Utah. The agency stated on social media that it has begun collecting radar, weather, and flight recorder data, and that the windshield in question will be sent to a laboratory for detailed examination. The incident occurred last Thursday when a Boeing 737 MAX flight from Denver to Los Angeles was struck at approximately 35,000 feet and made a safe emergency landing at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Images circulating on social media showed severe cracks in the front main windshield, and one pilot's arm was lacerated by what appeared to be glass fragments. The impact damaged the upper right side of the windshield and partially deformed the metal frame, but due to the windshield's multi-layered construction, it did not completely shatter. The captain reported that the object was suspected to be "space debris," but this claim has not been confirmed. It is worth noting that the aircraft was flying at an altitude of over 30,000 feet at the time of the incident, far exceeding the flight limit of ordinary birds. The world's highest-flying griffon vulture, primarily found in Africa, struggles to reach such altitudes.
Investigators are currently analyzing multiple possibilities. While space debris is the primary suspect, experts point out that a meteorite impact is more likely. According to a study published in the journal Geology, approximately 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth each year, far outnumbering man-made space debris. Other potential factors include out-of-control weather balloons or hail, but whether their speed is sufficient to cause such severe damage remains questionable. The NTSB stated that scientific analysis of the damaged material will ultimately determine the true source of the impactor.
