SALT LAKE CITY — A United Airlines flight from Denver to Los Angeles turned frightening Thursday morning when an unidentified object struck the aircraft’s cockpit windshield at 36,000 feet near Moab, Utah, injuring the pilot and forcing an emergency landing in Salt Lake City.
Mid-Air Impact Prompts Emergency Descent
United Flight 1093, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 134 passengers and six crew members, was cruising at altitude when the mysterious object hit the plane.
The impact cracked one layer of the aircraft’s multilayered windshield, injuring the pilot with scratches and bruises.
Passenger Heather Ramsey, who spoke exclusively with FOX 11, said she had been filming the sunrise when the incident occurred.
“One flight attendant raised her voice and told the other, ‘Get back. Get to the back of the aircraft, stop service,’” Ramsey recalled. Moments later, the pilot made a chilling announcement: “Unfortunately, we have some bad news. The aircraft has collided with an object.”
The aircraft rapidly descended 10,000 feet and diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport.
“I was just looking out the window thinking, ‘We could go down at any time.’ It was really scary,” Ramsey said. “Everyone was holding their breath until the very end. You could feel the tension throughout the plane.”
Photos and Passenger Reactions
A photo shared widely on X (formerly Twitter), viewed millions of times, shows the cracked cockpit windshield and the pilot’s injured arm, with glass shards scattered across the control panel.
United Airlines emphasized that the aircraft windshield is designed with multiple layers, ensuring structural safety even if one layer sustains damage.
United Airlines Statement
United Airlines confirmed the incident in an official statement:
“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.”
All passengers safely deplaned in Salt Lake City and were rebooked to Los Angeles, arriving approximately six hours late.
The airline said further inquiries should be directed to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
NTSB Investigation Underway
The NTSB announced it is actively investigating the incident:
“The NTSB is investigating a cracked windscreen on a Boeing 737-8 during cruise flight near Moab, Utah, Thursday. Operating as United Flight 1093 from DEN to LAX, the airplane diverted safely to SLC. The NTSB is gathering radar, weather, and flight recorder data. The windscreen is being sent to NTSB laboratories for examination.”
Investigators are now analyzing data to determine the cause of the impact and whether it originated from debris, equipment, or another airborne object.
What Could Have Hit the Plane?
The object remains unidentified, though speculation has ranged from scrap metal to space debris.
“That seems a little high for a bird,” Ramsey said. “People are saying scrap metal, it could be space debris, drones?”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says no commercial airliner has ever been struck by space debris, estimating the odds at less than one in a trillion.
The ongoing NTSB investigation, including forensic analysis of the windshield, is expected to provide answers in the coming weeks.
Pilot Praised for Calm and Control
Passengers praised the pilot’s composure and skill under pressure.
“The pilot did a phenomenal job, both manning the aircraft and keeping composure,” Ramsey said. “I just want to give props to him.”
The damaged Boeing 737 MAX 8 remains grounded in Salt Lake City for inspection by United’s maintenance team.
United Airlines reiterated that safety is its top priority and that all 134 passengers and six crew members were unharmed.
