Virgin Atlantic Flight Returns to London After Mid-Flight Windshield Crack
A Virgin Atlantic flight bound for San Francisco was forced to return to London Heathrow after the windshield of its Boeing 787-9 aircraft cracked mid-flight.
Flight VS41 was cruising at 40,000 feet on May 27 when the pilot decided to turn back three hours into the journey due to a partial crack in the wear-resistant outer layer of the cockpit windscreen. Virgin Atlantic confirmed that the British aviation hub had the necessary replacement parts and tools to repair the damage promptly.
Passengers affected by the incident were provided with overnight accommodation and alternative flight arrangements to complete their journey the following day.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson reassured that at no point was the safety of the aircraft, customers, or crew compromised. The decision to return to Heathrow was made to ensure a swift and efficient repair. The aircraft was back in service within 24 hours.
“We always work well above industry safety standards," the spokesperson stated, "and we’d like to apologize to the customers involved for the delay to their journeys.”
This incident is not isolated. Earlier in January, a United Airlines flight diverted to Denver due to a cracked windshield, and in February, an American Airlines flight to Spain was forced to land in Boston after a similar issue was discovered mid-flight.
