Boeing Company Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 181; Flight Crew Total 19212; Flight Crew Type 581
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related
Descending into IAD at approximately 4;500 ft. and 250 knots; inside MCQUE intersection on the MAPEL 2 arrival for Runway 19L; the Captain's windshield suddenly shattered. The Captain was looking down at the time; however both the [Relief Pilot] and myself; the flying First Officer; saw something strike the windshield. The Captain's windshield was completely shattered (but the inner pane was still intact) so I took over and landed the aircraft at his direction. There were no injuries. At first we assumed that this was a bird strike; however after landing we examined the window both inside and outside with maintenance and we saw no evidence of any bird remains or blood. After further reflection; we felt that this very possibly could have been a drone strike; as there was a clear area on the windshield showing where something hit it; with the cracks radiating from it; but with no evidence of biological material.
First Officer reported Captain's windshield was shattered during final approach by a possible collision with a drone.