Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 suffered a cracked windshield en route to Tokyo

On the 26th of December 2023, a Vietnam Airlines B787-9 Dreamliner sustained cracks on the left front windshield while cruising en route over the Pacific near Amami islands, Japan.

The Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 with registration VN-A867 was operating flight VN302 from Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo Narita Airport with 94 passengers on board.

However, the aircraft sustained cracks on its left-hand cockpit windshield at FL410 about 90 minutes before the scheduled arrival in Tokyo.

Prompted by the windshield issue, the crew initiated a descent to FL310 and continued the journey to Tokyo, where the aircraft safely touched down on runway 16R approximately 90 minutes later. Despite the mid-flight complication, all passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

Japan’s Ministry of Transport reported that the crack appeared 90 minutes before the scheduled landing, prompting a temporary closure of the runway for about 3 minutes after the aircraft’s safe arrival. The subsequent return flight, VN-303, was canceled.

The exact cause of the windshield crack remains under investigation by the airline and relevant authorities. No major abnormalities were found during the runway inspection, allowing normal operations to resume swiftly.

Multiple reports from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism emphasized that the aircraft landed at Narita Airport around 1:30 p.m., following an hour and a half of continued flight after the windshield issue arose. The cooperation of the crew and the adherence to safety protocols ensured the well-being of all individuals on board.

Vietnam Airlines swiftly addressed the situation by replacing the cracked cockpit windshield, enabling the aircraft to return home two days later.

Feature Image via mainichi