Pilots land Delta flight safely after cockpit windshield cracks

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Washington, D.C. was forced to make an unexpected landing after the plane’s windshield shattered.

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A passenger onboard the flight took a picture of the damaged windshield and posted it on Twitter. The photo shows the right side of the cockpit windshield shattered. None of the glass appeared to fall from the frame.

“They came on the loudspeaker saying that the windshield had shattered, and we were diverting to Denver in about 10 minutes,” Rachel Wright, a passenger on the flight, told KUTV. “I was sure I had misheard them, but I hadn’t.”

The crack happened after the plane had already been in flight for about 90 minutes and had reached cruising altitude above 30,000 feet, The Associated Press reported. The plane’s pilots were able to land the plane safely in Denver.

In a statement to KTVX, Delta Air Lines said, “Delta flight 760 from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. experienced a maintenance issue mid-flight. Out of an abundance of caution, the flight crew diverted into Denver and the plane landed routinely. Our team worked quickly to accommodate customers on a new plane, and we sincerely apologize for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans.”

“I’m grateful, I’m grateful, I’ve never been more grateful to spend an extra three hours in an airport,” Wright told KUTV.

The 198 passengers on board were put on a new plane and continued to Washington, D.C., The Associated Press reported.

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