Flights divert for all kinds of reasons, though this has to be one of the more unusual ones, as reported by The Aviation Herald.
Continue reading: United Boeing 737 Diverts Due To Open Cockpit Window
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It reminded me a little of the BA5390. Just the open cockpit window part. Luckily, the pilot was not sucked partially out of the window, where he remained until the jet landed. BTW - that pilot returned to flying just a few months later and stayed with BA for over 10 years, then Easyjet.
No windows "Pop" open. The side window slides back on a substantial track. I suspect windshield cleaners(who lean out this window to clean) did not properly latch it....
First item in the flow and also a checklist item. Someone may be getting some extra training.
When this happened before the wrong bolts were used to secure the window. First thing to check is the maintenance log.
Even if not "latched" closed, pressurization would prevent the window from opening, it is designed to move inward first, then slide aft. If that window was in the hole it's not "popping open"
Closely looking at the interior handle position should be indicative if it's not in it's normal position. Has any maintenance been done to the window recently, say to cure a whistling sound during pressurization of the a/c? A Window is typically rigged so the linkage goes over center to prevent outside air pressure from blowing the window open even if a locking latch on the inside handle is depressed as part of the sequence to manually open the window by various personnel.
I’ve been following the blog for 10 years. Have you written about your flight lessons?
Interestingly enough, Boeing has produced a training video covering this exact topic: the 737 sliding cockpit window suddenly opening during takeoff. They emphasize that it’s not an emergency, but a substantial distraction that can be readily dealt with. The window can be easily closed while in flight. However, there’s a catch to it (literally - a release catch that allows the window to be slid forward back to its closed and locked position), and if you’ve never seen or operated it before, it can be fiddly. The pilots must have either not been familiar with the training or the window operation, or the event was compounded by some other factor that led the crew to decide the safest course of action was to return to the field.
The 737 pressurizes to no more than 0.125 PSId during takeoff, which is not very much, to allow for exits to be opened in the event of a rejected takeoff and the airplane subsequently failing to depressurize. The airflow load on the exterior of a partially-unlatched sliding window is sufficient to overcome that low pressurization differential and push the window inwards.
Yes, also the sliding window track is designed with a pitch to allow the window to fully roll open with only gravity once the lock clears the cam.
I’ve seen some poorly rigged windows which can be a frustrating task.
I think the more surprising part of this otherwise useless post is finding out United flies out of Hartford.
When you don't close the window, it comes open. They are plug style windows. This is why you haven't heard of this happening before. It didn't blow out of the A/C, it came open to the inside.
On hot days if we had to spend a lot of time in the pattern, we would routinely open a cockpit window on our KC-135 (707). Was a bit windy but it cooled the non-air conditioned airplane off fairly well. It was easy enough to shut if we needed to. I'd be surprised if the 737 doesn't use the same style window.
This is ironic! I was on a flight to ATL from SFO and we were removed from the plabe due to the cockpit window! I was so shocked that I posted the pic on my FB feed! It appears their maintenance is terrible!
I don’t know what could have cause the window situation, but I am very glad that the pilots immediately took the plane back. If they considered it a hazard and unsafe, then it definitely was. Thank God it didn’t lead to something tragic. I am grateful for the miracle of being able to fly, but it can be tiring, and at a times uncomfortable. It’s ok!
Perhaps the window was opened while the plane was undergoing cleaning & refueling, and a small stone or similar debris got stuck in the latching mechanism, which prevented the window from latching when it was closed? If this was not noticed, maybe just the air resistance was enough to shove in the window? Love the blog, by the way!