Summary
- ANA flight NH-1182 returned to its departure airport resulting from a cracked windshield. No injuries were reported.
- Cracked windshields are common occurrences in aviation, happening almost weekly, but they do not at all times pose serious issues.
- Aircraft windshields are designed to be strong and might withstand bird strikes and harsh weather conditions.
On Saturday, January 13, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight was forced to return to its original airport. The flight crew reported a cracked windshield on the aircraft, and the flight crew elected to divert back to its departure airport. Cracks on windshields occur far more often than travelers think, although they don’t at all times end in diversion or cause serious incidents.
Recent ANA incident
The recently affected All Nippon Airways flight was registered as NH-1182. This flight travels from Sapporo in Hokkaido to Toyama in Honshu. NH-1182 typically departs Sapporo Latest Chitose Airport (CTS) at roughly 10:45 local time. The flight is scheduled to reach at Toyama Airport (TOY) at around 12:20 local time. This route is usually operated by a Boeing 737 aircraft.
Photo: viper-zero | Shutterstock
A Boeing 737-800 variant also flew the NH-1182 flight that was operating on January 13. This aircraft was registered as JA79AN, a 737-800 that was first flown in September 2014, making the aircraft roughly nine years old, per Flightradar24. A complete of 59 passengers and 6 crew members were onboard the flight when the flight crew realized a crack had formed within the windshield. The flight crew then decided to return to Sapporo. The aircraft arrived safely on the airport at roughly 12:10 local time, and no injuries were reported. A spokesperson for ANA told the BBC,
“The crack was not something that affected the flight’s control or pressurization.”
Other flights have recently been affected by cracked windshields, although not all have resulted in returning to the departure airport. On December 30, 2023, a Norse Atlantic Boeing 787-9 experienced a small crack on its left windshield. This aircraft was in a position to proceed to its eventual destination without further incident. Late last yr, a SpiceJet Boeing 737 also returned to its departure airport, in Kolkata, after the flight crew discovered a crack on its windshield. Moreover, an Atlas Air Boeing 747 returned to its departure airport, Leipzig, after a crack was found on its windshield.
Cracked windshields are usually not a rare occurrence
A crack on an aircraft’s windshield could seem intimidating or dangerous, but it surely actually happens more regularly than a typical traveler might imagine. It also doesn’t at all times develop into an element of concern. Per Oliver McGee, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Howard University, a cracked windshield occurs on aircraft nearly weekly. He also states that not all windshield incidents are properly reported resulting from various reporting standards throughout the world.
Photo: Greg K__ca | Shutterstock
Typically, an aircraft’s cockpit windows are made from two or more panes of thick glass. The panes of glass also include a sheet of plastic or acrylic in between to assist heat the cockpit. Each of those panes is manufactured and installed to make sure the pane can hold pressure by itself. Subsequently, if one pane is cracked or shattered, the opposite glass pane can maintain pressure within the cockpit.
Overall, aircraft windshields are designed to be incredibly strong and might withstand bird strikes and hail stones. The general thickness of the windshield is usually over 1.5 inches thick and is made to resist harsh weather conditions and temperatures.