United Airlines Flight 6309, operated by Mesa Airlines, returned to Houston on Sept. 27 after the first officer’s windshield shattered shortly after takeoff, sending pieces of glass into the cockpit. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and air traffic control recordings, the Embraer E175 landed safely.
Flight Crew Reports Windshield Damage After Takeoff
The flight departed George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) at about 12:20 p.m. local time on Sunday, bound for El Paso, according to flight-tracking data. Shortly after takeoff, the crew told air traffic control that the windshield had broken and requested to stop the climb and return to the airport.
“We just had our glass break,” one of the pilots said, according to audio obtained by ABC News.
The pilot later declared an emergency and told controllers that the windshield had “busted completely through” and that glass was falling into the cockpit. The aircraft returned to IAH at about 1 p.m. The Houston Fire Department responded and later determined the aircraft was safe, according to the airport.
No Loss of Pressurisation Reported
The FAA said the aircraft landed safely and that it would investigate the incident. Air traffic control recordings indicated that the aircraft did not lose cabin pressurisation after the windshield shattered. Mesa Airlines said the crew followed standard procedures by returning to the airport.
“The first officer’s windshield shattered shortly after takeoff and while there was no depressurisation, standard procedure in such cases are to return to field,” a Mesa Airlines spokesperson said.
Aircraft cockpit windshields are made up of multiple layers of glass and other materials. While the FAA said the incident involved a cracked windshield, recordings indicate that multiple layers may have been damaged. The cause of the windshield failure has not been disclosed.
The flight had 72 passengers aboard, according to reports citing the FAA and airline information. After the aircraft returned to Houston, passengers were transferred to another plane to continue their journey to El Paso. Flight-tracking data showed the replacement flight arrived in El Paso at about 3:14 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
The FAA said it will investigate the incident, while the damaged aircraft was inspected after returning to Houston. The incident occurred one day before the FAA confirmed the emergency return, with officials and the airline providing additional details Monday. Further information about what caused the windshield to shatter and the extent of the damage is expected as investigation develops.
Follow Travel Radar for the latest airline, aviation, and travel news.
