Enroute controller provided a descent to an aircraft experiencing a cracked windshield; the reporter...

Narrative:

A B737 level at FL340 on route requested lower in a muffled tone. I advised traffic on an E145 at FL320; descended him to FL330; and turned 15 degrees left. At that time I could not understand the reason the pilot stated he needed to change altitude. Traffic was moderate to busy so I began to issue other clearances until vector took effect and I could further descend the B737. It did not appear that the B737 took the turn when he again made a transmission requesting lower altitude. The aircraft sounded in distress and advised he needed to descend now due to a cracked windshield. During the entire situation it was very difficult to understand transmissions from the B737. Although the aircraft did not declare an emergency; I felt the situation was extremely serious; borderline emergency situation. I turned the B737 from about a 260 heading to a 180 heading away from the E145; and descended the B737 to FL290. I also turned the E145 to a 280 to get additional separation. Declare an emergency for the aircraft experiencing difficulty; since he did not declare an emergency himself.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller provided a descent to an aircraft experiencing a cracked windshield; the reporter noting he should have declared an ATC emergency for the aircraft and provided an immediate descent.

Narrative: A B737 level at FL340 on route requested lower in a muffled tone. I advised traffic on an E145 at FL320; descended him to FL330; and turned 15 degrees left. At that time I could not understand the reason the pilot stated he needed to change altitude. Traffic was moderate to busy so I began to issue other clearances until vector took effect and I could further descend the B737. It did not appear that the B737 took the turn when he again made a transmission requesting lower altitude. The aircraft sounded in distress and advised he needed to descend now due to a cracked windshield. During the entire situation it was very difficult to understand transmissions from the B737. Although the aircraft did not declare an emergency; I felt the situation was extremely serious; borderline emergency situation. I turned the B737 from about a 260 heading to a 180 heading away from the E145; and descended the B737 to FL290. I also turned the E145 to a 280 to get additional separation. Declare an emergency for the aircraft experiencing difficulty; since he did not declare an emergency himself.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1073390
Time
Date	201303
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Enroute controller provided a descent to an aircraft experiencing a cracked windshield; the reporter noting he should have declared an ATC emergency for the aircraft and provided an immediate descent.