The Mystery At 36,000 Feet: What Hit United Flight 1093?
On October 16, United Flight 1093 was cruising high above Utah when something slammed into it.
The flight, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered N17327, had departed from Denver International Airport (DEN) bound for Los Angeles (LAX). It climbed to FL360 without incident, but approximately 180 nautical miles southeast of Salt Lake City, an object hit the windshield with explosive force, causing injuries to one of the pilots.
Photos shared online showed the captain with injuries consistent with shattered glass, including a bloodied forearm and shards of broken glass on the flight deck. Scorch marks were also visible on the impacted section.
The incident is unusual, as cockpit windshield cracks are typically caused by thermal stress, electrical arcing, or routine fatigue, not violent shattering and injuries at cruise altitude. The object that hit the aircraft left no debris, no residue, and no clear explanation.
Whatever hit the aircraft left no debris, no residue, and no clear explanation.
Author's summary: Mysterious object hits United Flight 1093 at 36,000 feet.