United 737-8 Max at Newark bird strike Cracked windshield no pressurization

On 9 March 2026, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating Flight UA-1207 from Newark Liberty International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport with 145 people on board struck a bird while climbing through about 3,000 feet shortly after departing Runway 22R. The crew requested delay vectors while assessing the situation and later reported a cracked windshield, damage to a window gasket, and possible pressurization problems, with flight attendants also noting visible damage. After consulting with the airline’s operations center, the pilots decided to return to Newark, landing safely on Runway 22L about 20 minutes after departure.

Accident Facts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident and stated it would investigate, while a replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX later transported the passengers to Jacksonville with a delay of about 3 hours and 45 minutes

Sources

FAA public statement