CHICAGO- The co-founder of WindBorne Systems has confirmed that one of the company’s high-altitude weather balloons may have caused the mid-air collision that shattered a cockpit window on a United Airlines (UA) Boeing 737 MAX last week.
The incident forced flight UA1093, traveling from Denver (DEN) to Los Angeles (LAX), to divert to Salt Lake City (SLC) after the Captain was injured by flying glass. Federal investigators are now examining how a research balloon ended up in the aircraft’s flight path at 36,000 feet.
United Airlines Flight Hit by Balloon
WindBorne Systems’ co-founder and CEO, John Dean, admitted late Monday that one of the company’s weather balloons was likely involved in the October 16 incident.
He said the company learned of the event on Sunday night and immediately began cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to confirm the cause.
Dean explained that WindBorne operates a network of long-duration, lightweight weather balloons designed to improve global forecasting accuracy. The company regularly files NOTAMs and follows FAA 14 CFR Part 101 regulations, which limit balloon weight and require detailed flight coordination.
According to PYOK, Dean emphasized that WindBorne’s systems are designed to minimize risk even in the rare event of a collision.
“The system is built to avoid posing a danger to human life. No depressurization occurred, and there were no severe injuries, which aligns with FAA and ICAO safety standards,” he said.
The Mid-Air Collision Over Utah
United Airlines flight UA-1093 was cruising at 36,000 feet above Utah when the Captain spotted an object approaching the cockpit. The object struck the upper corner of the First Officer’s windscreen, shattering both inner and outer layers and spraying glass throughout the cockpit.
The Captain sustained arm injuries but managed to maintain control of the aircraft. The crew descended rapidly to a lower altitude and made an emergency diversion to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Initial theories included space debris or untracked aerial objects, but investigators quickly narrowed the cause to a possible weather balloon strike once WindBorne data suggested one of its devices was in the area.
WindBorne’s Next Steps
Dean called the windshield damage “extremely concerning” and said the company is taking immediate action to prevent future incidents.
WindBorne has already deployed hardware that is twice as light as earlier models and is developing a design to reduce collision force.
A recent software update also limits the time WindBorne’s balloons spend within active flight corridors used by commercial aircraft. Dean reiterated his commitment to ensuring no future risk to pilots or passengers.
Similar Incidents
While this event is rare, it’s not the first time cockpit windows have failed mid-flight. In 2018, a Sichuan Airlines Airbus A319 suffered a complete windshield blowout at 31,000 feet. The pilots managed to land safely despite severe damage.
In another case from 1990, a British Airways Captain was partially sucked out of the cockpit after a window panel detached. Quick action by the crew prevented his death and saved the aircraft.
These examples highlight the importance of robust aircraft design and continued review of potential risks from external objects, even those launched for scientific purposes.
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