Cockpit Windows Crack In Winter Storm

(CBS/AP)  Officials at Denver International Airport are still "baffled" by cracks that formed during a winter storm in the windshields of 12 airliners, airport spokesman Steve Snyder said.

The storm blasted the Denver metropolitan area with wind as high as 100 mph.

Investigators had found no evidence of wind-blown debris that could have caused the cracks, which delayed some flights, Snyder said.

No emergencies were declared and no injuries were reported.

Windshields on two Frontier airliners were cracked while they were airborne near Denver, and two others were cracked while the planes were on the ground, said Joe Hodas, spokesman for Denver-based Frontier Airlines.

Airplane windshields are heavily reinforced, designed to handle travel at hundreds of miles per hour and even survive collisions with birds, Hodas said.

"It's truly bizarre," he said.

SkyWest Airlines reported cracked windshields on eight planes that were taking off or landing Friday, spokeswoman Marissa Snow said. One plane's windshield cracked while it was airborne.

Elsewhere, a twin-engine Cessna crashed during a snowstorm southeast of the airport at Council Bluffs, Iowa, killing at least three people late Friday, officials said.

The cause of the crash was not yet known. The National Weather Service said a fast-moving storm was pushing through the area with snow, wind gusting up to 53 mph and poor visibility.

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[darkfyreaol]

I blame it on factory defect.

A) As stated, the windows are reinforced and can handle winds of several hundred miles per hour.

B) They can also handle impacts, such as birds, hitting the glass at several hundred miles per hour.

C) The temperature in the upper atmosphere is notoriously low. With wind chill, I suppose it could get to around -100. I don't think it's the temperature change either, or the air pressure.

Or maybe it's a combination of a factory defect, as well as A and C. Murphy's law, eh.

[flolake]

"Well if obama is elected president all these problems would stop esp all those unwanted babys
and im sure we wouldnt have any more race discrimination and everybody would have equal oppertunity employment. if hillary is elected im sure the birth rate in america would plummet due
to free abortions for all or should i say sin for all thats all we need is for some bible hatin
democrat to get elected and of course if we get another bush we could just kiss ourselves goodbye
i dont know how this relates to a crack windshield
on an airplane but im sure some neocon will figure it out for me. heee heee heee"
Posted by dmorg4 at 12:11 PM : Feb 18, 2007
dmorg4: Are you off of your meds? Go sell crazy somewhere else, Pootie.

[fizzal-2009]

Sounds like they are trying to get part of the plane paid for by the insurance company, instead of raiseing rates?

[mo005]

wow, you people are some bord a-- mofos arent you ha ha ha. Like a bunch of little kids.

[dmorg4]

Well if obama is elected president all these problems would stop esp all those unwanted babys
and im sure we wouldnt have any more race discrimination and everybody would have equal oppertunity employment. if hillary is elected im sure the birth rate in america would plummet due
to free abortions for all or should i say sin for all thats all we need is for some bible hatin
democrat to get elected and of course if we get another bush we could just kiss ourselves goodbye
i dont know how this relates to a crack windshield
on an airplane but im sure some neocon will figure it out for me. heee heee heee

[Middleman1200]

"But then again all you do for a living is sit in your underpants and blog these groups and wait for your social security check to come in the mail."
Posted by Plowhandle

Hey Plowhandle, I've been looking for you. You never answered my reply to you last time.
I just have one question for you though.

What do rabid, leftist democrats like you wear when YOU sit around and blog?
I would have to guess it's gotta be PANTIES for you.

[erichsh]

That's it! middleman and darkmeat hit the nail on the head. Gotta be Bush's fault - and all those blasted evildoer neocons. Or maybe it is global warming after all. Oh well, Obama can make it all better.

[middleman8]

One of Suddams WMD's I'll bet anything on it.

Tell Bush he has lost,give up the "Surge".

[hawksprings]

I can't believe the Global Warming Sheep haven't jumped on this as another example of human caused global warming! Where are you guys?

[jerrystjo]

Should not be any mystery about the cause of the broken airline windhields in Denver.... tis the ghosts of the Aprahoe and Cheyenne warriors who continue to roam the plains east of Denver. While the lance does not penetrate a modern windshield, the impact will crack the reinforced glass. As the warriors themselves, the lance can not be seen by mortals. Bless those brave pilots who venture into the unseen invisible lands of the Ancient Ones.