A United Boeing 737 only had to turn back shortly after take-off because a window had opened. This also made communication with the tower difficult.
Actually, the Boeing 737 from United Airlines with the registration number N66825 should have brought the passengers from Hartfort to Washington Dulles on Tuesday (April 18). But shortly after takeoff, the plane turned back and flew back to the place of departure. The pilots had reported an emergency.
The reason: Shortly after takeoff, when the machine had reached an altitude of around 4000 feet (1220 meters), one of the cockpit windows opened. “A window has opened here,” said one of the pilots to the controller. Shortly thereafter he says that he can hardly hear anything. In the background you can hear the wind blowing through the open window.
Windows not locked
The machine finally landed back in Hartfort shortly after take-off. None of the 178 occupants were injured. The travelers flew to Washington on a replacement plane and arrived there about six hours late.
United Airlines confirms the incident. The window opened because it wasn’t locked properly. Whether this was a mistake by the cockpit crew or whether it was a maintenance error is now being determined.
With push handle
How the windows in the cockpit can be opened depends on the aircraft type. On the Boeing 737, a lever and push handle open the cockpit window. To close the window, you simply have to reverse the whole thing and lock the window.
However, there is no electronic indication whether the window is closed and locked.
This article was written by Laura Frommberg
