Flight from US to Germany had to return for a crack in the windshield

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The daily airplane/flight mishap of the day.

A flight with the US Secretary State as a passenger on a flight to Munich Germany had to return because the pilots noticed a crack in the windshield. Thankfully nothing happened.

MSN

Shouldn't that be part of a preflight inspection unless the crack developed after takeoff?
 

At the factory, airplane windshields are checked by shooting a dead chicken at the windshield at approximately the speed of the aircraft.

During preflight checks, checking the windshield is on the list of items that get checked. If the crack is in a corner, it’s possible for the crack to be overlooked. Windshields will crack because of the change in temperatures. Flying at 40,000 feet, the outside temperature is about -60 degrees F. Landing in Phoenix during July, the ground temp may be 110-120 degrees F. Sudden changes like this can cause windshields to crack, even just small cracks.

There have been instances where windshields have blown out while in flight, but this is a very seldom occurrence.
 

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