It’s not often that a cracked cockpit windshield turns into a national headline, but this one might deserve the attention. On a routine United Airlines flight from Denver to Los Angeles, a Boeing 737 MAX diverted to Salt Lake City after the front windscreen cracked mid-flight, allegedly leaving scorch marks and even a bruised pilot. Was the aircraft struck with space debris or another intersellar object?
At first glance, this could sound like a straightforward windshield failure, something that does happen occasionally due to manufacturing stress or temperature differentials. But this case was different: the damage showed apparent burn or scorch marks, and one of the pilots suffered bruising on his arm, consistent with a sudden jolt or partial depressurization, in an image shared by aviation-insider JonNYC.
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) October 18, 2025
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
