Panic at 40,000 feet: Virgin Atlantic flight's cockpit windscreen cracks, makes emergency turnaround
Panic at 40,000 feet: Virgin Atlantic flight's cockpit windscreen cracks, makes emergency turnaround
A Virgin Atlantic flight from London's Heathrow Airport to San Francisco encountered a frightening incident when the outer layer of the cockpit windscreen cracked midair, forcing the Boeing 787-9 to turn back.
The damage occurred three hours into the flight, while the plane was at an altitude of 40,000 feet between Greenland and Iceland, with an outside temperature of -58 degrees. The cause of the crack remains a mystery, as the high altitude ruled out a bird strike.
"The outer layer that partly cracked is a non-structural, wear-resistant layer," a Virgin spokesperson said, emphasising that the windscreen is composed of multiple layers. Despite the assurances, passengers were understandably concerned about potential cabin decompression.
The airline apologised for the inconvenience and provided accommodation, with travellers completing their journey to San Francisco the following day.
This incident adds to a series of recent issues faced by Boeing. In separate incidents, two Southwest Airlines planes experienced significant altitude drops, with one diving while landing in Oklahoma City and flying less than 500 feet over a residential area, and another descending to just 400 feet above the Pacific Ocean en route to Hawaii.
Additionally, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Oregon lost an external panel from a Boeing 737-800 in March. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and reliability of Boeing aircraft.
For more news like this visit TOI. Get all the Latest News, City News, India News, Business News, and Sports News. For Entertainment News, TV News, and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes