Storm Linked To Rash Of Air, Ground Incidents

Officials at Denver International Airport aren't sure if -- or how -- a snowstorm led to cracked windscreens in over a dozen airliners Friday... but the storm does appear to be the common denominator.

The Associated Press, citing local media reports, states regional carrier SkyWest Airlines appeared to suffer the most cracked windscreens, with nine of its CRJs and Embraer Brasilias (above) affected. Eight of the planes were either preparing to takeoff, or on approach to land, when the cracks occurred; another was inflight when hit with the cracks.

"Only the outermost layer was affected" on all the planes, SkyWest spokewoman Marissa Snow said. The inner "failsafe" layer held, and no emergencies were reported.

Wind gusts close to 100 mph were reported in the Denver area at the time the cracking occurred, although airport officials say the winds were calmer at the airport itself -- with gusts up to 50 mph.

Not optimal conditions, certainly... but also not uncommon for Denver in the winter. None of the pilots reported seeing flying debris that could have struck the planes, causing the cracks.

DEN spokesman Steve Snyder said airport officials were "baffled" by the problem.

And the problem wasn't limited to SkyWest, either. Frontier Airlines also had two of its planes stricken with cracked windscreens while in flight... and, even more perplexingly, two others had windscreens crack while the planes sat at the gates.

Wind is a possible culprit, Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said... but added no one is certain that was the cause.

"It's not exactly unusual weather for Denver," Hodas said. "We don't know what it is... It's kind of a mystery at this point. It's truly bizarre."

At least 55 flights from DEN were cancelled due to Friday's storms, while others were diverted, according to the AP.

As Aero-News reported earlier this month, pilots of a Beechcraft King Air 200 were startled when their plane's windscreen cracked while cruising at 27,000 feet. The pilots depressurized the plane's cockpit, and became unconscious before they were able to secure their oxygen masks; fortunately, they regained consciousness and were able to bring the plane in for a safe, though dramatic, emergency landing.

FMI: www.frontierairlines.com, www.skywest.com, www.flydenver.com/