All articles tagged with #weather balloon
Hundreds of flights were delayed at San Diego International Airport after a drone and a weather balloon were spotted nearby, prompting the FAA to pause arrivals and departures for about two hours during Labor Day weekend; operations resumed by 4:30 p.m., with more than 400 delays reported and TSA investigating the drone activity.
A United Airlines Boeing 737 Max was likely struck by a weather balloon from Windborne Systems at 36,000 feet over Utah, causing windshield damage and an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. The incident is under investigation by the NTSB, with Windborne reviewing its balloon safety protocols.
A United Airlines flight was diverted after its windshield was cracked, and a weather balloon company, WindBorne Systems, suggests their balloon may have caused the damage, prompting an investigation by transportation officials.
Near-record winds of 265 mph at 35,000 feet over the Mid-Atlantic allowed commercial flights to reach speeds over 800 mph, with one flight from Washington to London landing 45 minutes ahead of schedule. The high winds were caused by a powerful jet stream resulting from the contrast between cold air over the Northeast and warm air over the Southeast. The fast high-altitude flow also contributed to less snowfall than predicted in Washington.
Taiwan's defense ministry reported another suspected Chinese weather balloon crossing the Taiwan Strait, marking the third incident this month. The balloon stayed north of Taiwan and flew at an altitude of 15,000 feet before disappearing. Taiwan remains on high alert for Chinese activities ahead of upcoming elections and has warned of Beijing's interference. China has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, with regular operations near the island. The use of weather balloons for potential spying has become a global concern since the US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon in February.