B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Aircraft; Staffing
At cruise altitude FL370; FWD WINDOW INOP EICAS message appeared; with formation of 2 cracks in FWD Captain (CA) windshield. Within one minute window shattered with associated loud noise. Position at time of event was approximately 200 nm E of our departure airport and 85 nm West of a suitable alternate. Followed QRH and determined possible deformation of outer pane appeared near original failure point; QRH directed land At Nearest Suitable Airport. Informed ATC and requested lower altitude and clearance to our selected divert airport. Informed FAs; had deadheading Captain come to cockpit to assist; informed Dispatch via ACARS; and deadheading Captain informed PAX. Determined because QRH recommended Land At Nearest; an overweight landing was appropriate. Overweight landing and Emergency checklists were completed.First Officer made normal landing. Following landing emergency was terminated after clearing the runway with taxi to the gate. Local staff handled customers. Appropriate maintenance log entries were made and contact was made to Dispatch via phone.Communication was difficult via ACARS and no communications was possible with local operations. Via radio operations not staffed with radio operator they said.
A B757-200 EICAS alerted FWD WINDOW with two cracks; then shortly a loud noise accompanying a shattered Captain's window. The QRH was completed; the flight diverted to a nearby airport and landed in emergency condition.