A domestic flight operated by Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) took the decision to return to its departure airport on Saturday after discovering a crack on the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft mid-flight, according to a spokesperson for the airline.
The flight, designated as Flight 1182, was originally bound for Toyama airport but changed its course back to the Sapporo-New Chitose airport following the identification of the crack on the outermost layer of the four-layered windows surrounding the cockpit. The spokesperson clarified that no injuries were reported among the 59 passengers and six crew members on board.
It's important to note that the aircraft in question was not one of Boeing's 737 MAX 9 airplanes, which have recently gained attention due to an incident where a cabin panel broke off a new Alaska Airlines jet during a flight last week.
The ANA spokesperson emphasized that the identified crack did not impact the flight's control or pressurization systems, reassuring passengers and stakeholders alike.
In a related development, the United States aviation regulator announced on Friday the indefinite grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes for new safety checks. Additionally, increased oversight measures on Boeing itself were outlined to ensure stringent safety protocols were adhered to.
