B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Near top of descent (FL390); I noticed that the left forward windshield appeared to start de-laminating. At that time we requested a lower altitude and began a descent. I started to reference the QRH and about that time the delamination rate started to advance quite rapidly. I directed First Officer to declare an emergency and as he was accomplishing this; the windshield shattered. We continued the descent while running QRH; and it became apparent that there was a closer airfield and requested a divert there. Continued descent to 10;000 ft and remained there until ready for continuous descent. Landed; exited runway and discontinued emergency. Taxied to the ramp; and shut down.  No injuries; windscreen remained intact.
[Report narrative contained no additional information].
A B757 Captain's windshield delaminated at FL390. A descent was began; an emergency was declared and the flight diverted to a nearby airport.