Mystery Object Damages United Airlines 737 MAX Windshield, Injures Pilot

By AeroMorning on October 21st, 2025

On October 20, 2025, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX was forced to divert and land safely in Salt Lake City after an unidentified object struck the aircraft’s windshield at cruising altitude, slightly injuring one of the pilots.

According to statements cited by multiple U.S. media outlets, the incident occurred on Flight 1453 from San Francisco to Denver while the jet was flying at around 36,000 feet over Utah. The impact cracked one layer of the cockpit’s multilayered windshield, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and request an immediate diversion.

United Airlines confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that passengers were never in danger. “Our pilots followed standard procedures and landed the aircraft without further issue,” the airline said in a written statement. The pilot sustained minor injuries from glass fragments and was treated after landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation and will examine the damaged windshield in its laboratory to determine what hit the plane. The agency said it is too early to identify the object.

One possible explanation emerged from WindBorne Systems, a company operating weather and research balloons in the region. The firm told ABC News that one of its balloons went missing around the same time and location as the incident, although no official link has been confirmed.

Witnesses aboard the flight reported a loud “thud” followed by a sudden drop in cabin pressure, but the crew quickly stabilized the aircraft. The passengers continued their journey to Denver later that evening on a replacement jet.

The Boeing 737 MAX involved in the incident was returned to maintenance for inspection. Neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor Boeing has issued a public statement as of this writing.