B757-200
Distraction; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Climbing through FL320; a large spread out crack developed on the Captain's forward windshield. We notified ATC of the crack and that we were maintaining cabin pressure. We declared an emergency and requested a descent to 10;000 feet and a return to our departure airport. We ran the window damage checklist in the QRH. It was the Captain's leg but; because the crack was on his side; he elected to have me perform the landing. The Captain handled the communications with the flight attendants; the Company; and the passengers. I flew the airplane and handled ATC comminications. We set up for the ILS XXR in ZZZ and performed a normal approach and landing. We were met by emergency vehicles; but we did not require assistance.
Climbing through FL320 the outer pane of the Captain's front windshield instantaneously shattered.The Captain coordinated with ATC; Maintenance Control; local Operations and our flight attendants and passengers.
The flight crew of a B757-200 declared an emergency and returned to their departure airport after the Captain's windshield shattered climbing through FL320.