Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Training / Qualification; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
While in cruise flight at FL300 we noticed the top left side of the left windshield was glowing in an orange color and sparking. It began to show hairline cracks or lines. Within a few minutes of that; the entire windshield shattered into a spider web like series of cracks making the entire windshield unusable for seeing through. The aircraft maintained pressurization while we completed the QRH procedure. We diverted and landed into a nearby airport which was 40 NM away uneventfully.
A CRJ200 Captain's windshield developed hairline cracks over the entire window so the flight diverted to a nearby airport for a precautionary landing.