Weather Balloon May Have Cracked United Plane’s Windshield

A United Airlines flight was forced to make an unexpected diversion last week after the aircraft’s windshield suddenly cracked, leaving passengers and crew scrambling for answers. Now, a surprising revelation has shed light on the possible cause of the incident: a weather balloon.

According to reports, the United Airlines flight was cruising at high altitude when the windshield cracked, prompting the pilots to divert the plane to the nearest airport as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident, but the sudden and unexpected nature of the event raised concerns about the safety of air travel.

In a surprising twist, a company that specializes in launching weather balloons has come forward suggesting that one of their balloons may have been responsible for the cracked windshield. The company stated that it is “quite likely” that their balloon was the culprit, although they did not provide definitive proof.

Weather balloons, also known as radiosondes, are launched into the atmosphere to collect data on temperature, humidity, and wind patterns. They are typically made of latex or synthetic materials and can reach altitudes of over 20 miles. While collisions between aircraft and weather balloons are extremely rare, they can and do occur.

The incident has raised questions about the potential risks associated with weather balloons and air travel. However, it’s worth noting that the vast majority of weather balloons are launched and recovered without incident, and the chances of a collision are extremely low.

United Airlines has not commented on the incident, but the airline is likely to be working with investigators to determine the exact cause of the cracked windshield. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex and often unpredictable nature of air travel, and the importance of continued vigilance and safety measures to protect passengers and crew.