SALT LAKE CITY — A United Airlines (UA) Boeing 737-8, flight UA1093, from Denver (DEN) to Los Angeles (LAX), was diverted to Salt Lake City (SLC) on October 16, 2025, when the windshield of the flight deck fractured in flight. 

The aircraft, registered N17327, was in service with 140 passengers when the crew made the decision to descend from 36,000 feet to 26,000 feet and divert to SLC. 

The Boeing 737 MAX landed safely on runway 16L, approximately 50 minutes after the sequence started. Passengers were subsequently routed to Los Angeles by a replacement Boeing 737-9, arriving with about a six-hour delay.

An Unusual Occurrence

Aircraft windshield cracks, although rare, are not unknown to commercial air travel and are most often the result of thermal stress, bird strikes, or pressure disparities. 

The incident, however, generated unusual speculation after an aerospace source released a photo allegedly indicating scorching marks around the broken windshield and discoloration of a pilot's arm. 

The discoloration has generated speculation that the aircraft was hit by space debris or even a tiny meteorite.

Investigation, Emergency Response

While these claims are not yet proven, the photo corroborates the documented details of the flight, like the 164° heading for the course for runway 16L at Salt Lake City. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and UA still need to investigate the actual cause.

The Boeing 737-8 in question will likely go through a stringent examination before being cleared for flight. Until findings are confirmed, the potential for space-generated impact is speculation.

Fortunately, the crew's quick reaction produced a safe result and proved the rigidity of contemporary cockpit enclosures under unusual circumstances.