BENGALURU– A Qatar Airways (QR) Boeing 777-300 operating a long-haul international service was forced to divert to Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) after a cracked windshield was detected mid-flight.
The flight QR-853, which had departed from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Doha, Qatar, was en route to its intended destination when the cockpit crew identified the crack on the windshield.
Photo: By Riik@mctr – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96292445Qatar Airways 777-300 Diversion
Following established safety protocols, the pilots coordinated with air traffic control and opted for a precautionary diversion of the aircraft registered A7-BAC to Bengaluru, where emergency services were on standby.
Qatar Airways has one of the largest Boeing 777-300 fleets, frequently used on high-demand international routes. According to data from planespotters.net, Qatar operates 57 Boeing 777-300ER, which have an average age of 12.4 years.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a 17.2-year-old widebody that has been in operational service with QR since its initial delivery in August 2008, reported AviationSourceNews. The publication also said:
Flight data shows that flight QR853 had made an on-time departure out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 8:22 PM local time on 22 September. Following departure, the flight had set course normally, climbing to flight level FL360 for the north westerly service to Doha, Qatar.
According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft was at FL360 about 100nm northeast of Bangalore when it was decided that the aircraft would divert to Bangalore, following the cracked windshield. Eventually, the aircraft landed safely on BLR’s runway 27L approximately half an hour later.
Photo: Acroterion | Wikimedia Commonshttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qatar_Boeing_777-300ER_A7-BEP_IAD_VA2.jpg
Safety Protocols and Crew Response
The same aircraft was previously involved in an incident on 15 September 2015 at Miami (MIA), when it sustained minor damage after its underside struck runway lights during an intersection takeoff.
A cracked windshield, if left unattended, can potentially lead to further structural issues. Cockpit windows on most aircraft are usually constructed from multiple layers of thick glass, according to Simple Flying:
The panes of glass also include a sheet of plastic or acrylic in between to help heat the cockpit. Each of these panes is manufactured and installed to ensure the pane can hold pressure by itself.
The windshield generally measures more than 1.5 inches in total thickness. Despite the physical robustness of a windshield, during incidents like those involving QR-853, pilots can divert the aircraft if they find it necessary.
Photo: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon | Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A7-BAL,_Boeing_777-300ER_of_Qatar_Airways_at_Shahjalal_International_Airport,_2018.jpgBottom Line
Cracks in an aircraft windshield, such as the one seen in Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER, can develop due to factors like stress, temperature variations, or material fatigue.
Regular inspections and strict maintenance schedules help airlines identify potential issues early, but in-flight occurrences like this cannot be fully eliminated.
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