A United Airlines flight had to return to Memphis International Airport shortly after takeoff due to a cracked windshield. On the morning of December 1, 2025, flight UA1126 was headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport when the incident occurred. The Boeing 737-700, registered as N14735, had just climbed to 13,000 feet when the crew noticed the damage and safely turned back to Memphis.
The flight departed at 7:34 AM, only four minutes behind schedule, and was expected to arrive in Chicago at 9:26 AM. After approximately half an hour in the air, the crew declared an emergency and began their descent back to Memphis, landing on Runway 36R without incident. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
Flight Details and Replacement Aircraft
Following the safe landing, passengers were deplaned, and United Airlines arranged for a replacement aircraft. The new plane, a Boeing 737-900ER with the registration N81449, came from Washington-Dulles and was scheduled to depart Memphis at 2:04 PM. This resulted in a delay of nearly six hours, with the flight eventually arriving in Chicago at 3:25 PM.
While the exact number of passengers on UA1126 is unknown, the aircraft has a maximum capacity of 126. United Airlines is expected to compensate affected passengers for the inconvenience and may have rebooked those with connecting flights in Chicago, which is a major hub for the airline.
Safety Concerns Over Windshield Damage
A cracked windshield poses significant safety risks, particularly regarding cabin pressurization and visibility for pilots. While pilots primarily rely on instruments for navigation, any crack can potentially worsen and lead to more serious issues. In this instance, it remains unclear whether the damage was due to an internal fault in the aircraft or an external collision, such as with a bird or other object.
In a similar incident in October 2025, a United 737 experienced a shattered windshield after reportedly colliding with a weather balloon, injuring one pilot from glass shards. The necessity for repairs on the damaged aircraft, N14735, is urgent, as it will require inspection and potentially replacement parts before it can return to service.
United Airlines is now faced with the task of determining whether to conduct repairs on-site at Memphis or transport the aircraft to a maintenance facility. If the latter option is chosen, the aircraft will have to be flown at a lower altitude due to the pressurization issues related to the cracked windshield.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols in place surrounding aircraft maintenance and inspections, particularly regarding potential hazards that can arise during a flight. United Airlines has yet to provide a statement regarding the extent of the damage or future measures to prevent similar occurrences.
