On Feb 6th, 2026, a Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9, registration B-1546, operating flight HU-492 from Brussels (Belgium) to Beijing (China), was forced to return shortly after departure when a crack developed in the captain’s windshield during the climb.
The aircraft was climbing through approximately FL370 after leaving Brussels when the flight crew identified the windshield damage. Following standard procedures, the decision was made to discontinue the flight and return to the departure airport as a precaution.
The Dreamliner reversed course and landed safely on Brussels runway 25L about 100 minutes after departure. There were no reports of injuries, and the return was carried out without further incident.
As of the latest information, the aircraft remains on the ground in Brussels roughly 29 hours after landing, suggesting inspections and maintenance are ongoing before it can be cleared for service.
While modern cockpit windshields are designed with multiple reinforced layers to withstand significant stress, any cracking at high altitude is treated as a serious technical issue, underscoring the crew’s conservative and safety-focused decision to return.
