WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The chair of the National

Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday a weather balloon may

be responsible for cracking a United Airlines windshield

at 36,000 feet, prompting emergency landing.

WindBorne said in a statement late Monday that it believes

it was one of its balloons that struck the United Flight 1093, a

Boeing 737 MAX, on Thursday over Utah. NTSB Chair Jennifer

Homendy said it had received the report from the company and is

looking at it has part of the investigation. She said the

incident "could have been really devastating for the aircraft

and those on board."