FAA to probe Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 mid-flight windshield crack

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate an emergency landing case of a Delta Air Lines flight in which the flight deck windshield cracked mid-flight. 

The incident occurred on March 31, 2022, when the plane registered N689DL was performing a regular domestic flight DL760 between Salt Lake City and Washington, in the United States. According to Flightradar24.com data, the jet with 198 people on board took off from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) at 4.07 p.m (UTC) and was supposed to touch down at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) around four hours later. However, 90 minutes after the takeoff, the flight crew declared an emergency due to a cracked windshield, and the plane diverted to Denver (DEN) instead.  

On April 2, 2022, the FAA confirmed it would conduct an investigation of the Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 jet incident.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the flight crew diverted into Denver and the plane landed routinely. Our team worked quickly to accommodate customers on a new plane, and we sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans,” the Delta spokesperson explained to the media. 

A picture of the flight deck found on social media showed a windshield lined with multiple fractures and cracks but still held in its frame. 

“We were on our way to the ACC meeting when it was announced that we would need to make an unplanned landing in Denver because the windscreen cracked. It was spontaneous. Fortunately, we landed safely and are about to get back in the air. We are grateful for safe flights,” a passenger wrote in a post. 

Flight deck windshields usually contain two panes of thick glass with a plastic layer in between for heating as well as for anti-ice and anti-fog systems. The aircraft glass pane is designed to hold full pressure if the other one is shattered or ruptured.