A Southwest Hawaii flight had a prolonged and undoubtedly concerning over-water diversion late yesterday because of a shattered window near the co-pilot. Southwest flight 2367 departed Honolulu at 4:20 PM, two hours later than scheduled, and was bound for San Diego. It ended up returning instead to Honolulu at 7:39 PM.
Something severe enough to require a three-hour diversionary flight occurred mid-Pacific such that the plane made a U-turn before it reached the halfway point from Hawaii.
Data from Flightaware indicates the incident took place about 90 minutes into the flight. The flight U-turned before landing safely in Honolulu. At that point, the flight was canceled, and passengers are being accommodated on other Southwest flights from Hawaii later today, Monday. Southwest does not accommodate passengers on other airlines.
A shattered airliner window can vary in severity.
Last year a Delta flight diverted when a main cockpit window shattered, and even worse, a number of years ago, a British Airways pilot was sucked out a broken window and held on to by other crew until the plane could land.
Cockpit windshields are very durable, with two pieces of thick glass and a layer between them. Sometimes, heating issues with the glass can cause it to crack. It is more common for these to occur soon after take-off than when cruising, although this type of incident isn’t entirely uncommon either.
What caused the flight diversion?
It has been reported that the plane had a cockpit window that shattered during the flight to the mainland.
Emergency personnel met the plane in Honolulu, and it was also reported that a passenger had a medical emergency onboard. Safety onboard flights over the world’s longest stretch of water without a diversion point is paramount.
Read: Hawaii Has the World’s Longest Over-Water Flights.
Kudos to Southwest for the safe return to Honolulu.
If you were on that flight, please let us know.
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Boto I says
Big deal! It happens, get over it!
Leann J says
We were on the flight. The crew was stellar. They told us we had to turn around because “a Crack in the windshield ” nbd- rest easy. Good thing, because had we all known the severity of the “crack” it might have been full blown panic on board. We didn’t now until after when we deplained how actually bad it was. We got a pic and it was scary! So glad everyone was safe!!!
Tom U says
Well done!
Marilyn says
It was in the early 90’s and I was on a TWA flight from St. Louis to probably Boston. The plane’s front windshield cracked & we made a diversion to Cleveland. We had a 2 1/2 hour delay while the windshield was replaced.
Xavier S says
In the last year or so, after many Covid19 issues have been lifted, I have
noticed a particular trend on issues on airplanes which makes me wonder
If these planes are being given Complete, Tough checks before allowing
passengers to be on these planes, especially these darn smaller planes that
pack passengers like sardines on flights like this one to Hawai’i…..they are
uncomfortable and now, may are showing damage on planes, forcing them
to make emergency landings! This is not good at all in my opinion and what
is bad is that the Prices on Airline Tickets isn’t Cheap! Especially Southwest, which for the most part, isn’t cheap to Hawai’i!
Sue says
I encourage everyone to read the story about British airways. google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/travel/1807264/pilot-sucked-ba-cockpit-window/amp/