MOAB, Utah – A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) details a midair collision on October 16, 2025 between a United Airlines flight en route from Denver to Los Angeles and possibly a weather balloon from Spokane.

The pilot of the Boeing 737-8 aircraft diverted to Salt Lake City after the plane made a significant impact with an object to the first officer’s windshield at a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, causing glass to shower the cockpit.

According to the report, WindBorne Systems Inc. reported losing contact with a global sounding balloon (GSB) in the area at the time of the accident.

The balloon traveled south from Spokane, down through Oregon and Nevada before turning northeast, and was crossing through Utah at the time of the accident, the report

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