Cockpit window cracks mid-flight on American Airlines flight bound for DC

Video above was taken by DC News Now's Ben Dennis, discussing the issue with members of the flight crew.

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- American Airlines flight 4435 was heading to Washington, D.C. from Chicago early Tuesday morning when passengers got the message that they'd be diverted to Columbus, Ohio.

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Over the intercom, passengers were informed that the aircraft was no longer air worthy. DC News Now's Ben Dennis was aboard the plane when they made the detour and he captured a visual of a cracked window in the cockpit.

Screenshot of video after American Airlines plane diverts after cockpit window cracked. (DC News Now's Ben Dennis)

The flight attendant pointed to the window when asked why the plane was diverted. The pilot and co-pilot can be heard saying that they didn't know what happened to cause the crack.

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In a statement provided by American Airlines, the airline said the plane experienced a mechanical issue with the windscreen and landed safely in Columbus after being re-directed. The plane was taken out of service for inspection, and passengers boarded another flight.

There were no reported injuries.

"Safety is the center of everything at American," the statement reads in part. "We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience this has caused."