Yesterday, 11.7 years old Qatar Airways Boeing B777-2DZLR aircraft was forced to do an Air turn Back (ATB) to Male, Maldives after the Cockpit Discovered Cracks at around 38000 feet Altitude on the Pilot Side Windshield.
The Aircraft registered as A7-BBD was carrying out a Flight (QR-677) from Male - Maldives (IATA: MLE, ICAO: VRMM) to Doha - Qatar (IATA: DOH, ICAO: OTHH), when Cockpit Crew Declared emergency due to the situation and descended to FL100 initially followed by a safe Landing at Male without any further incidents due to the windshield cracks.
AFTER DECLARING EMERGENCY QATAR AIRWAYS BOEING 777-200, RETURNS BACK TO VIA DUE TO A CRACKED COCKPIT WINDSHIELD.
— Shiphattey . (@Shiphattey) August 6, 2021
LANDED SAFELY, WITH NO INJURIES REPORTED TO ANY CREW OR PASSENGERS. @flightradar24 pic.twitter.com/akR6l9pS8w
Avherald sources say , Two Replacement Aircrafts ( A7-BEI and A7-BBE ) were sent to Male, one after another to bring back the stranded Passengers at Male, but Only A7-BBE carried the Passengers for the return flight QR-677D back to Doha.
In case of Such 'Windshield crack event' in flight, Pilots prefer to land at nearest destination at earliest, if they could not differentiate the crack location, i.e. , if crack is on Outer pane (layer) of the of the windshield or Inner Pane of the windshield ! Many aircrafts have allowable limits to continue the flight, in case of an Windshield Outer Pane crack incident.
► One of the reason may be the quality of the windshield. A windshield life is aprox. 30,000FC. Substandard windshields age faster, Crack/crazing can initiate early compromising the safety of the aircraft.
► At higher altitudes,the outside temp. is very low,windshields need to be heated.Again,uneven heating or short circuit can induce intensity change & break due to differential pressure of inside & outside the cabin.
► Periodic checks needing windshield removal & installation can lead to an error/risk factor,if a wrong fastener is used or wroung torque /sequencing is used.
► Possibility of an intruder /FOD. The windshield may be hit by something,such as a bird or hailstones at lower altitudes.
