Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Diverted
Procedure; Aircraft
While at 32;000 feet in cruise flight when we noticed a crack flowing across and down the Captain's windshield. There were sparks and what appeared [to be] melting metal within the crack; so I immediately shut off the window heat. We ran the QRH for windshield damage and diverted to ZZZ. There were no EICAS messages or popped circuit breakers.
The pilot of a CRJ 200 reported observing a crack forming across his windshield accompanied by sparks. He turned off the window heat; performed the QRH procedure and diverted.