Did a Meteor Hit the Plane?
A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration N17327), operating flight UA1093 from Denver to Los Angeles, diverted to Salt Lake City after a crack developed in one layer of the cockpit windshield while cruising at 36,000 feet (around 11 kilometers).
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 17. After detecting the crack, the flight crew made a safe landing in Salt Lake City. Initial inspections revealed damage to the aircraft’s nose area and cockpit window, raising the possibility that the impact was caused by “metal space debris” or a small meteor fragment — though this theory has not yet been confirmed.
Reports indicate that one of the pilots sustained minor cuts on the arm due to scattered glass particles. All 140 passengers were safely evacuated after landing.
The passengers were later transported to Los Angeles on a replacement Boeing 737 MAX 9, arriving about six hours behind schedule. An official investigation into the incident is ongoing.
