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Apparent Weather Balloon Cracks United 737 Windshield at 36,000 ft — Pilots ‘Showered with Glass’, Flight Diverted

Quick summary: A United Airlines Boeing 737-8 cruising at 36,000 ft was struck by an object that cracked the forward windshield and "showered" the pilots with glass. The captain suffered minor lacerations; no other injuries were reported among the 111 passengers and crew. Investigators say a WindBorne Systems sounding balloon lost contact and was near the aircraft’s path; WindBorne has added safety measures while the NTSB continues its probe.

08:03 PM, 11/21/2025Society
Apparent Weather Balloon Cracks United 737 Windshield at 36,000 ft — Pilots ‘Showered with Glass’, Flight Diverted

Two pilots were left covered in fragments of cockpit glass after a United Airlines Boeing 737-8 was struck by an object that cracked the multilayered windshield while cruising at 36,000 feet, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report.

What happened

The incident occurred on the morning of Oct. 16 when United flight 1039, en route from Denver to Los Angeles, diverted to Salt Lake City after the forward windshield on the first officer’s side was struck near Moab, Utah. The NTSB report says the event occurred at about 6:43 a.m. local time. The captain reported seeing an object on the horizon just before a loud bang and a significant impact that "showered" both pilots with pieces of glass. The captain sustained multiple superficial lacerations to his right arm; the first officer was uninjured. None of the other 111 people on board were hurt.

Pilot response and aircraft condition

After the impact, the flight crew coordinated with air traffic control, initiated a descent and landed in Salt Lake City. Cabin pressurization remained stable throughout the flight. The captain cleaned and bandaged his wounds before the aircraft landed, per the report.

Investigation and possible balloon link

The NTSB requested data on nearby weather balloons, other aircraft and any reentry objects that could have been in the area. WindBorne Systems, a company that operates long-duration smart weather balloons, reported losing contact with one of its global sounding balloons (GSB) that was in the vicinity at the time. According to the company and the report, the GSB was launched from Spokane, Washington, on Oct. 15 at 11:29 MDT and traveled south through Oregon and Nevada before turning northeast and crossing Utah near the time and location of the event.

WindBorne told investigators that its GSBs are designed to minimize harm if they contact an aircraft and that it has implemented additional safety measures aimed at reducing the likelihood and potential severity of any future aircraft–balloon interaction.

Safety context

The NTSB noted that the aircraft’s windshields are certified to withstand the impact of a four-pound bird without penetration. Investigators continue to examine radar, tracking and telemetry data to determine the object’s identity and the exact sequence of events.

Representatives for the NTSB, United Airlines and WindBorne provided information to investigators during the preliminary inquiry. The investigation remains ongoing.

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