CRJ550 flight crew reported copilot window failure resulted in descent and divert to a safe landing.
Synopsis
CRJ550 flight crew reported copilot window failure resulted in descent and divert to a safe landing.
Narrative
I was PF and FO (First Officer) was PM. The flight started as any other regular flight. We did not find any irregularities with the windshield of the aircraft. As we were established in cruise; almost halfway to ZZZ. FO notice a tiny flicker of bright yellow light on the front bottom of his window/windshield. That took our attention and we assumed it was a short circuiting of the windshield heat system. We preemptively started looking at the QRH for a possible damaged windshield. Just moments later the outer layer of the front windshield (FO side) cracked. We requested priority handling and descended to a lower altitude and ultimately made a diversion to ZZZ1 airport. We notified ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) to be on standby; although we did not require their assistance. The descent to approach and landing was successful. Passengers and crew deplaned the aircraft through a jetbridge.Cause: We did not find any irregularities with the windshield upon the preflight inspection. The cause could have been either a short circuiting in the windshield heating system resulting in a crack of the windshield.Suggestions: When the windshield outer layer cracked; the only suggestion I can think of is to descend to a lower altitude and divert to a nearest suitable airport to prevent any further damage to the windshield.
Second reporter narrative
While en-route in cruise at FL300; I (FO) noticed an intermittent orange glow coming from the bottom of the windshield by where it meets the glareshield. I asked the Captain about it and he said that was not normal; and we should run the Windshield or Window Cracking; Shattering; Arcing or Delamination" QRH. While running the QRH one of the windshield layers violently shattered; but it did not cause any glass shards to enter the cockpit. Pressurization also seemed stable. We were about 45 minutes to our original destination; but we elected to divert to a closer airport in the interest of safety; and to reduce the risk of further aircraft damage. During the decent we completed the QRC. ATC granted priority handling for us; we notified our Dispatch via ACARS; we called the FA (Flight Attendant) and let her know of the diversion and to prepare the cabin for landing; we notified the passengers of the diversion and of the precautionary landing and we continued on to our diversion airport without further incident. ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) was available and followed us into the gate; but was not needed. We deplaned via jet bridge and filed a report and contacted our Maintenance Control.Cause: Possible fault in the windshield heating element; leading to uneven heating of the windshield and rapid heating/cooling of the glass?I don't believe we hit anything; and I'm pretty sure the intermittent orange glow was something electrically shorting out.Suggestions: My only guess would be some sort of maintenance inspection or replacement of the windshield; but I don't know how viable that would be given the rarity of this event."
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.