AMSTERDAM- A cracked cockpit windshield forced a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) Boeing 787-9 carrying Queen Mathilde of Belgium to execute an emergency landing in Costa Rica.
The incident occurred during the Queen’s Unicef-organized journey from Amsterdam to San Jose on Sunday (February 9, 2025).
Photo: By Bill Abbott – cDSC_0337, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54266347KLM Flight Emergency Landing
The aircraft touched down at San Jose International Airport eleven minutes ahead of schedule at 5 PM local time. The Queen embarked on this 11-hour flight for a scheduled three-day Unicef mission in Costa Rica.
Belgian royal correspondent Wim Dehandschutter, who traveled on the same flight, discovered the windshield damage only after landing. He shared his experience on social media platform X, noting the flight’s departure delay of 20 minutes from Schiphol Airport and encounters with typical flight turbulence.
Dehandschutter expressed surprise at media reports characterizing the landing as an emergency, stating that passengers received no notifications about the windshield damage during the flight or upon arrival.
The correspondent described the landing as “quite hard” but mentioned that nothing during the flight indicated a serious situation to the passengers.
Photo: By Jeroen Stroes Aviation Photography from the Netherlands – PH–BHF, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75919601Official Remarks
The expert detailed how the KLM Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (PH-BHD) executed its priority landing on Runway 07 at San José Juan Santamaria International Airport after a 10-hour-43-minute flight.
KLM issued an official statement confirming the incident, emphasizing that passenger and crew safety remained uncompromised throughout the flight. The aircraft remains grounded in Costa Rica pending necessary repairs.
Queen Mathilde continues her UNICEF mission in Costa Rica, focusing on establishing childcare facilities in underserved communities. The Belgian royal family has shared visual documentation of her engagement with local children through their social media channels.
The Queen’s schedule includes visits to crucial community institutions. She toured La Cometa, a public childcare facility in Tirrases, San José province, and met with representatives at Lloverá Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting Costa Rica’s homeless population.
Her itinerary incorporated a visit to a coffee plantation that provides support services for seasonal workers’ children. Queen Mathilde, age 52, maintains her original schedule and plans to conclude her Costa Rican mission on Wednesday, returning to Belgium as planned.
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Incident
A critical mid-flight incident forced American Airlines (AA) Flight 94 to execute an emergency landing in Boston after its windshield developed a significant crack during its transatlantic journey to Madrid.
The Boeing 777-200 departed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 7:28 p.m. Wednesday before encountering a structural issue approximately two hours into its flight.
Aviation authorities declared an Alert 2 status at 9:46 p.m., signaling potential landing complications. The Massachusetts State Police confirmed the severity of the situation to NBC Boston, while the City of Phoenix Sky Harbor’s Response Aviation Emergencies procedures classify Alert 2 as an indication of substantial aircraft issues that could result in landing difficulties.
FlightAware tracking data reveals the aircraft diverted from its Atlantic crossing, successfully touching down at Boston Logan International Airport at 10:03 p.m. American Airlines subsequently grounded the aircraft for comprehensive inspection by its maintenance team.
The airline has implemented immediate contingency measures for affected passengers, securing overnight accommodations and arranging a replacement aircraft scheduled for Madrid departure on Thursday afternoon. American Airlines issued a formal statement to The Post acknowledging the maintenance issue and reaffirming its dedication to minimizing travel disruptions.
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