Weather Balloon Likely Forces United Airlines Emergency Landing

Last week, a United Airlines flight was forced to execute an emergency landing after reportedly colliding with a weather balloon over Utah at an altitude of 36,000 feet. The incident occurred while the Boeing 737 Max was en route from Denver to Los Angeles. Fortunately, the aircraft, carrying 134 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at Salt Lake City on Thursday.

Investigation and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident. Shortly after being notified, Windborne Systems, a California company responsible for the balloon operations, began its own inquiry. Initial conclusions from Windborne suggested that their balloon likely collided with the aircraft, despite their measures to prevent such incidents.

Details of the Collision

Windborne’s CEO, John Dean, expressed surprise at the level of damage to the plane’s windshield. The company’s weather balloons weigh approximately 2.4 pounds at takeoff and utilize a simple bag of sand as ballast. The collision shattered the windshield, causing glass fragments to scatter in the cockpit.

Federal Regulations and Safety Measures

Windborne claims to adhere to all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations regarding balloon size and design. Dean voiced his concern over the injuries sustained during the incident, emphasizing that collisions should not occur, regardless of regulations in place. Although the NTSB statement did not report any injuries, Dean noted that data showed the flight’s location aligned closely with the last known position of the balloon before it ceased communication.

Current Actions and Future Precautions

• Windborne has launched over 4,000 balloons, coordinating with the FAA for each flight.
• The company provides real-time updates on balloon locations to avoid such accidents.
• Recent software adjustments aim to reduce the time balloons operate between altitudes of 30,000 and 40,000 feet.
• Future designs may include improved ballast systems to lessen collision impact.

The NTSB is scheduled to release a preliminary report in the coming weeks. However, the complete investigation could take over a year to finalize. The focus remains on ensuring safety in the skies and preventing similar incidents in the future.