SPOKANE, Wash – A weather balloon launched from Spokane last month collided with a cruising United Airlines flight, injuring the pilot and causing the flight to be diverted.
The NTSB released a preliminary report on the incident this week.
On October 16, a Boeing 737 collided with the balloon near Moab, Utah.
The balloon hit the windshield and both pilots were showered with glass.
The captain suffered multiple cuts to his arm and the forward officer was not injured.
None of the 111 passengers on board were hurt and the cabin didn’t lose pressure. The captain turned the plane over to the forward officer and the flight was diverted to Salt Lake City.
The investigation revealed the balloon was launched from Spokane the day before.
It traveled from Washington through Oregon and Nevada, then turned northeast into Utah.
The investigation says the National Weather Service issued a “notice to airman” before the balloon launched. It expired that same day.
Weather balloons like this are designed with the intent to minimize harm in the event of an impact during flight or landing” and contain no large pieces of metal or structural elements.
The investigation says the plane windshield is several layers thick and is designed to withstand the impact of a four-pound bird and cabin pressurization loads.
The damaged windshield was sent to the NTSB lab for examination. The investigation is ongoing.
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