Airline cockpit windows crack on European flights, prompting safety investigations

Two recent incidents raised concerns about the integrity of aircraft windows in Europe. On 10 July a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered damage to a cockpit window, prompting the emergency landing of the aircraft and an investigation that involved Serbian citizen Ljubiša Karović, who reported the damage. No injuries were reported.

A second incident occurred on 27 July when a Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737‑800 flying from Oslo to Dubrovnik developed a crack in the front cockpit window. The crew performed an emergency diversion to Vienna, where the aircraft landed safely. Again, there were no injuries.

Aviation experts explained that cockpit windows are built from multiple layers of glass and plastic, making them robust; however, cracks can arise from bird strikes, foreign‑object impacts, or failures in the window‑heating system. Jan Skogset, president of Norway’s aircraft technicians’ association, noted that while the outer layer may break, the inner layer usually remains intact. Engineer Slobodan Kolaček added that cabin‑window cracks are rare thanks to regular inspections and replacements when wear is detected. Both incidents are being examined to determine whether any systemic issues need addressing.