It wasn’t space debris that struck a United Airlines plane—it was a weather balloon

A United Airlines plane sustained damage during its approach to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. Initially, it was reported that the damage was caused by space debris. However, the company behind the weather balloon, WindBorne, has stated that their balloons are compliant with all applicable airspace regulations. The incident occurred on February 4th, 2023, when the United Airlines flight was hit by an unidentified object. Authorities initially suspected that the object was space debris, but further investigation revealed that it was a weather balloon. WindBorne, the company that operates the weather balloon, has assured that their balloons are designed to comply with all relevant airspace regulations. The company has also cooperated with the authorities to investigate the incident and provide any necessary information. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper coordination and communication between various stakeholders in the airspace, including commercial airlines, weather monitoring companies, and regulatory authorities, to ensure the safety of air travel.