Uganda Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Return to Johannesburg After Windscreen Shatters Mid-Air

A Uganda Airlines Airbus A320 made an emergency return to Johannesburg on April 3, 2026, after a cockpit windscreen shattered mid-air. Capt. Tonny Tebajanga is praised for the safe landing.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — A Uganda Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Friday morning after a cockpit windscreen shattered shortly after takeoff.  

The incident occurred on Friday, April 3, 2026, involving a nine-year-old Airbus A320-200 (registration 9H-AMS), which the national carrier currently leases from Global Airways to supplement its fleet. The aircraft was departing Johannesburg for Entebbe when one of the flight deck windows suddenly failed at altitude.  

The flight was captained by senior pilot Tonny Tebajanga, who has been widely praised by passengers for his composed handling of the emergency. According to witnesses on board, the crew maintained a steady environment despite the visible damage to the cockpit glass.  

Capt. Tonny Tebajanga praised by passengers for safely landing the plane amid the mid-air windshield shattering.

Simon Kaheru, a prominent Ugandan communications expert and passenger on the flight, recounted the “freak incident” on social media, noting that while some passengers could tell “things were not right,” Capt. Tebajanga and his co-pilot, Tebs Balis, “quietly and steadily held the situation” and executed a safe return to Johannesburg.  

The aircraft landed safely at O.R. Tambo without further incident. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

Aviation experts suggest that mid-air windscreen failures can be caused by various factors, including bird strikes, heating element malfunctions, or foreign object debris (FOD). While Uganda Airlines has not yet issued a formal technical report, the aircraft has been grounded in Johannesburg for a full safety inspection and repairs.

The disruption adds to a busy week for the national carrier, which has been utilizing the leased A320 to maintain its regional schedule. Passengers from the affected flight are being rebooked on alternative flights or provided with accommodation while the airline coordinates a replacement aircraft for the Entebbe route.