Cracked Cockpit Window Prompts All Nippon Airways Boeing 737 to Return Mid-Flight
An All Nippon Airways (ANA) domestic flight faced an unexpected turn of events as it returned to its departure airport due to a crack in the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred approximately 40 minutes after take-off, with the crack discovered in the “second window from the right out of six windows in the cockpit.” ANA assured that all 65 passengers and crew on Flight 1182 safely returned to the airport.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crack, which was identified in the outermost layer of tempered glass on the cockpit window. The airline has reported the incident to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Boeing’s 737-800 model, renowned for its reliability and safety record, has been in service since 1998. This incident follows recent scrutiny on Boeing after a mid-air incident involving the 737 Max 9 model, where a door plug blew open mid-flight, causing significant damage to the fuselage.
As investigations continue, 171 Boeing Max 9s remain grounded in the United States, awaiting updated emergency inspection guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
