A United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Utah after a mysterious object struck and cracked the cockpit windshield at 36,000 feet, with the Silicon Valley startup WindBorne indicating that one of its weather balloons may have been responsible.
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 16, 2025, when United Flight 1093, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 traveling from Denver to Los Angeles with 134 passengers and six crew members onboard, was cruising over Utah. An object hit the aircraft, causing the multilayer cockpit windshield to crack, and the pilots promptly declared an emergency, diverting to Salt Lake City International Airport for a safe landing. Air traffic control audio captured the calm professionalism of the crew during the diversion, underscoring the controlled response to the mid-air crisis.
Upon landing, the first officer in the cockpit received treatment for minor injuries from the Salt Lake City Fire Department, though specific details were not disclosed. Passengers, including college student Heather Ramsey, described moments of confusion as flight attendants abruptly halted service before the pilot announced the emergency, citing the collision and shattered window. The aircraft later proceeded to Rockford, Illinois, for maintenance, while United arranged for passengers to continue to Los Angeles on another plane, minimizing travel disruptions.
The mystery began to unravel on Monday, October 21, when WindBorne Systems, a California-based company focused on advanced weather forecasting using long-duration smart balloons, released a statement suggesting one of its balloons likely struck the flight. WindBorne is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which have launched an investigation, with the damaged windshield sent to the NTSB laboratory for detailed analysis to determine the exact cause and nature of the impact.
In response, WindBorne has implemented immediate safety changes, including reducing the time its balloons spend between 30,000 and 40,000 feet—altitudes commonly used by commercial aircraft. The company is also accelerating plans to use live flight data for autonomous avoidance of planes, even at non-standard altitudes, and developing new hardware to lessen impact force. These proactive measures, already in effect, aim to prevent similar incidents and highlight the evolving challenges of integrating new technologies into shared airspace.
Aviation experts have emphasized the rarity of such events, with ABC News analyst John Nance noting that aircraft windshields are designed to withstand typical hazards like bird strikes, but at 36,000 feet, possibilities are limited to objects like drones or weather balloons with sufficient mass. He described the situation as extraordinary, pointing to the puzzle of what could cause significant damage at such high altitudes, where bird strikes are virtually nonexistent and other man-made objects pose unique risks.
The incident has sparked broader discussions on aviation safety and regulation, particularly as high-altitude balloons become more prevalent for weather and research purposes. Images of the cracked windshield, initially shared on social media by an aviation account, went viral, drawing public attention to the potential hazards in increasingly crowded skies. This event may prompt reviews of protocols for encounters with unconventional objects, ensuring that innovations in data collection do not compromise the stringent safety standards of commercial aviation.
Looking ahead, the ongoing investigation by the NTSB and FAA will provide critical insights into preventing future occurrences, potentially leading to updated guidelines for balloon operations and aircraft design. The collaboration between airlines, regulators, and tech companies like WindBorne will be essential in balancing technological advancement with passenger safety, reinforcing the aviation industry’s commitment to adapting to new risks in a dynamic environment.