CRJ-900 flight crew reported an NMAC event with a balloon while in cruise. The First Officer disconnected the autopilot and promptly executed an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision and afterwards the Captain reported the balloon to ATC.
Synopsis
CRJ-900 flight crew reported an NMAC event with a balloon while in cruise. The First Officer disconnected the autopilot and promptly executed an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision and afterwards the Captain reported the balloon to ATC.
Narrative
After being cleared to descend via the ZZZZZ Arrival into ZZZ we encountered a very near miss with a round weather balloon attached to a cable that looked to be connected to the ground. The First Officer was pilot flying level at FL190 just before beginning our descent on the arrival.We were approaching the ZZZZZ1 Intersection and I was heads down in the airplane trying to get the ATIS/in-range gate information. I heard the FO (First Officer) make a statement 'like what is going on/what is that.' Moments after that I heard the autopilot disconnect and shortly after that the airplane was banking to the left. I looked at the EICAS screens to see if any messages had appeared that would have caused the autopilot to disconnect as it happened quite suddenly. The First Officer announced he had disconnected the autopilot and my attention was then directed outside. As I looked outside I could clearly see a large white round balloon with some orange coloring on the bottom that looked to have a cable connected possibly to the ground. The object was heading straight for the nose/windshield area and it was very close to making contact with the aircraft and I am convinced had the First Officer not acted as swiftly as he did by banking the aircraft; we would have made contact with the object.After the evasive maneuver the First Officer got the aircraft back on the arrival and we reengaged the autopilot. The event lasted only a few seconds. I was able to inform ATC that we had almost impacted a weather balloon. ATC gathered a little information on the report; altitude and location; and replied with those things are supposed to have transponders." After the event we proceeded to a normal landing in ZZZ.Weather balloon that I believe was not supposed to be at that altitude caused us to have to make an evasive maneuver to avoid impacting it."
Second reporter narrative
While in cruise at filed FL190 from ZZZ1 to ZZZ; nearing the TOD (Top of Descent) for the ZZZZZ RNAV Arrival; assigned 310 kt. or faster; we were cruising at 320 kt. between ZZZZZ2 and ZZZZZ1. Autopilot was engaged and I was pilot flying when an object came into view in my peripheral vision. As I glanced up at it; I took about a second to process what I was seeing as an object in our flight path that was either stationary or on a collision course with the aircraft. I processed that it was a white and orange checkered weather balloon with equipment hanging underneath; and then promptly disconnected the autopilot and quickly initiated a left bank of roughly 20 to 30 degrees - cannot recall as it happened so fast. I think I initiated the bank within one or two seconds of first seeing the balloon. The balloon went by the right side of the aircraft and did not appear to have come in contact with us; but we were not certain about that. Without knowing the exact size of the balloon; I can estimate it maybe came within 20 to 30 ft. of the right wing.Once clear; I reduced the bank and got the aircraft back on course and re-engaged the autopilot. During the maneuver; altitude reached FL191. The Captain reported the balloon's location to ATC; and they had no idea that there was a balloon in the vicinity of the arrival. As I saw the balloon first; the Captain said he saw it after I verbally exclaimed profanity as I disconnected the autopilot and banked the aircraft. An aircraft behind us also at FL190 did not encounter the balloon after being warned by ATC from our report. The Captain called the flight attendants to check on the cabin. At the time the seatbelt sign was on and no passengers were out of their seats. The forward FA (Flight Attendant) was out of her seat in the cabin but did not fall or receive any injuries; and the aft FA was seated at the time of the maneuver. Had I not promptly changed the flight path; the aircraft would have gone directly into the balloon or the equipment hanging underneath. After the event; we continued as normal to land in ZZZ. The Captain made a PA to the passengers at the gate before we opened the door to explain the reason for the maneuver. An FA who was a deadhead in the back claimed that she saw the balloon off the right side as we maneuvered to avoid it. The balloon looked like a roughly 10x10 ft. weather balloon or maybe larger; white and orange color on the balloon itself with a box of equipment hanging below it. Additionally; once on the ground we had Maintenance conduct a post-flight inspection for any damage if we had contacted it.The cause of this incident was an un-tracked weather balloon on the ZZZZZ Arrival directly in our fight path at FL190. ATC said they could not detect a transponder from it. It may have been a recreational weather balloon. Had I seen it earlier I'm not sure it would have bought us much more time to avoid it as it came up so fast; being that it was stationary relative to us at 320 kt. IAS.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.