A High-Flying Mishap: Plane Hits Weather Balloon Mid-Air

A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying over Utah when it unexpectedly collided with a weather balloon. The incident, which happened at a cruising altitude of 36, 000 feet, caused significant damage to the cockpit windshield. The captain was injured, but the plane managed to land safely in Salt Lake City. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the event. They found out that the balloon, launched by WindBorne Systems from Spokane, Washington, had lost contact before the collision. The balloon was traveling through Utah when it met the plane's path. The NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, pointed out that the situation could have been much worse. Luckily, the plane's windshield is built to handle impacts, like bird strikes. It has multiple layers, including a special film to prevent icing and different types of glass and plastic layers. After the incident, the plane has not been back in service. The damaged windshield was sent to a lab for further examination. WindBorne Systems has also made changes to prevent similar incidents in the future. They are improving their air traffic alerts and reducing the weight of their balloons. This event raises questions about safety measures for high-altitude flights. It's crucial to ensure that all objects in the sky, including weather balloons, are tracked and managed properly to avoid such incidents.