A US aircraft was hit by a suspected meteorite at 10,000 meters altitude
According to the aviation news website Aviation A2Z, on October 16, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by United Airlines, en route from Denver to Los Angeles, had its windshield cracked during flight. It is speculated that the incident may have been caused by space debris or a small meteorite. The pilot suffered minor injuries to his arm. During this time, the plane descended from 36,000 feet (approximately 10,973 meters) to 26,000 feet (approximately 7,925 meters), and made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, causing a six-hour delay. The incident is still under investigation.
Emergency landing itself is not an unusual situation. Although a cracked windshield is not common, it is a known type of accident. The special aspect of this incident lies in the details of its cause.
The aviation information website OMAAT reported that a set of photos posted on social media showed burn marks on the aircraft's windshield and bruises on the pilot's arm, indicating that this incident was a high-energy impact rather than a simple structural rupture.
Original source: www.toutiao.com/article/1846385025087496/
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