Weather Balloon Company Believes Its Product May Have Hit United Flight

Potential Mid-Air Collision Cause

• 💡 A company called WindBorne Systems has come forward, suggesting their weather balloon might be the object that struck a United Airlines flight.
• 🎯 The incident occurred last Thursday on a flight bound for LAX, cruising at approximately 36,000 feet.
• ⚠️ The collision shattered the cockpit windshield, forcing the plane to divert and land in Salt Lake City.

WindBorne Systems' Perspective

• 🚀 The CEO of WindBorne Systems, John Dean, stated that after reviewing telemetry, they concluded there was a strong possibility it was one of their balloons.
• 📊 These weather balloons typically weigh between 2 to 3 pounds and can float up to 65,000 feet, remaining airborne for up to two weeks.
• ✈️ The company is developing systems to use ADSB transponder data to automatically reroute balloons away from flight paths.

Pilot and Safety Considerations

• 👨‍✈️ A former pilot noted that a pilot would have had very little time to react, especially if it was dark, due to the object's small size.
• 🔍 The NTSB is currently investigating the cracked windscreen and gathering data.
• 🌍 It's acknowledged that the exact number of balloons in the air globally is unknown.
• ✅ WindBorne Systems has pledged to comply immediately with any safety requests from the FAA.