Investigation launched after plane forced to divert to Heathrow when windscreen shatters

The plane's cracked windscreen
Hannah Al-Othman30 November 2015

Specialist investigators are today looking into what caused the front windscreen of an American Airlines plane to shatter as it flew from Milan to New York.

The JFK-bound aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport just after 11.15am on Saturday with 183 passengers and 12 crew on board.

A spokesman for the airline said a maintenance issue caused the Boeing 767-300 to divert shortly after it departed from Milan–Malpensa Airport, at 10am local time.

The spokesman apologised to passengers affected by the incident, and added that the aircraft was being investigated to determine the cause of the fault.

Passengers on board the flight were reaccommodated on alternative flights from London to New York.

According to mechanical engineering professor Oliver McGee, cracked windscreens on commercial flights are no a rare occurance, with one reported about once every one to two weeks, and many likely go unrecorded

In February, another American Airlines 767 was forced to divert to Heathrow when it sustained a cracked windshield en route from Zurich to New York.

A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said American Airlines would be investigating the cause of the incident.

American Airlines has been approached for further comment.

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