JetBlue outer windshield shatters midair

JetBlue flight #1052 from Puerto Rico to Tampa had to be diverted to Fort Lauderdale in South Florida yesterday after its outer windshield shattered in midair. The aircraft did not lose cabin pressure from the incident.

The flight took departed San Juan at 10:29 a.m. then landed in Fort Lauderdale just before 1 p.m.

In a statement made by the airline: “JetBlue flight 1052 from San Juan to Tampa diverted to Fort Lauderdale in an abundance of caution following a report of damage to one of the outer layers of the cockpit windscreen. The flight landed safely at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time. Customers have been accommodated on another aircraft.”

According Michael Paluska who was on the flight and is a reporter forWFTS, a Tampa ABC affiliate, one of the flight attendants told passengers: “It happens, I wouldn’t say frequently, but I’ve actually had this happen before. There’s multiple, multiple layers in the windscreen, and it’s the outer layer that shattered. … Like I said, we’re not in any grave danger.”

Passengers changed planes and eventually arrived in Tampa at 3:31 p.m.