Pilots Land Plane In Denver After Cockpit Windshield Cracks

DENVER, CO — Pilots were forced to land a plane in Denver after its cockpit windshield shattered above 30,000 feet, officials confirmed.

The Delta Air Lines flight left Salt Lake City and was headed to Washington, D.C., when the crew came on the loudspeaker and told passengers that the windshield had cracked, KUTV reported. The crew then told passengers the plane would land in Denver in 10 minutes and asked them to remain calm, according to the report.

A photo of the windshield taken by a passenger shows the glass, though lined with cracks, didn't fall from its frame. Commercial airline pilots said jetliner windshields can be 2 inches thick, with several layered panes of glass, KUTV reported.

The crew announced the diversion about 90 minutes into the flight, after the plane reached cruising altitude, which is above 30,000 feet, passengers said.

"They kept coming on saying for everyone to stay calm, to be calm, and we were calm so being told to stay calm while we were calm made us feel a little panicky," Rachel Wright, one of the 198 passengers on the plane, told KUTV.

Passengers were able to see the shattered glass once they landed in Denver.

"I'm really good at playing what-if? And so, my mind goes to kind of what could have happened, worst-case scenario, and I'm grateful," Wright said. "It could have been really bad, it could have gone very differently."

Another passenger, Kirk Knowlton, snapped a picture and tweeted that the crew had announced that the windscreen appeared to crack spontaneously.

Delta spokesperson Anthony Black on Friday confirmed the "windshield crack."

"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," an airline statement said.

Passengers boarded a new plane in Denver and continued on to Washington. Wright praised Delta for bringing the jet down safely and said the airline was very accommodating.

"I've never been more grateful to spend an extra three hours in an airport," Wright said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.