Narrative:

During climb out from ZZZ; passing FL270; noticed arcing at the top of the captain's #1 window. Upon closer inspection; arcing was actually running in a hairline crack in what appeared to be the outer pane. The arcing and cracking spread rapidly across the top of the windscreen. Then the outer pane shattered. We immediately leveled off; slowed the jet; ran the red tabs; and declared an emergency. A turn direct ZZZ and a lower altitude was accomplished. Fuel weight was adjusted in the descent to ZZZ. Uneventful landing at ZZZ.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 RETURNS TO DEP ARPT WHEN CAPT'S WINDSHIELD OUTER PANE SHATTERS.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FROM ZZZ; PASSING FL270; NOTICED ARCING AT THE TOP OF THE CAPT'S #1 WINDOW. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION; ARCING WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING IN A HAIRLINE CRACK IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE OUTER PANE. THE ARCING AND CRACKING SPREAD RAPIDLY ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WINDSCREEN. THEN THE OUTER PANE SHATTERED. WE IMMEDIATELY LEVELED OFF; SLOWED THE JET; RAN THE RED TABS; AND DECLARED AN EMER. A TURN DIRECT ZZZ AND A LOWER ALT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. FUEL WT WAS ADJUSTED IN THE DSCNT TO ZZZ. UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT ZZZ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.