Flight Crew Commercial
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
During cruise [at] FL390; Captains outer windshield shattered. Crew declared an emergency; descended when clear of thunderstorms; and diverted to [nearest suitable airport].
QRH did not direct us to land; but with ice and snow in [destination] it sure seemed like the safest action to take. Our safety margin into icing conditions had been severely reduced. Captains visibility was severely reduced.
MD-11 flight crew reported Captain's window outer pane shattered. An emergency was declared; and the flight diverted to a nearby suitable airport.