AA bird strike - Captains side windshield shattered but fortunately still 'intact'
 

Bird strike - windshield shattered
"An American Airlines flight encountered one of the most terrifying things a plane could go through mid-flight -- one of its windows started looking like a spider web ... and it happened in the cockpit, no less.Check out these wild photos TMZ obtained of an AA flight that was on its way to Cleveland, OH Saturday ... something apparently struck the cockpit's windshield and damn near shattered it to pieces.
BTW, this happened midway through the trip ... the plane was forced to turn around for an emergency landing in Chicago."
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5bb882057f.jpg

Looks like some commuter plane to me.

I don't think it's an American Airlines jet. ;)

AA3408 (AAL3408) American Airlines Flight Tracking and History 21-Nov-2020 (KORD-KORD) - FlightAware

American Eagle have ERJ's.

I think this one was Envoy.

The type is written on the glareshield.

Outer, non-structural, windscreen layers can shatter without being provoked by birdstrike. It's a quite small issue.

Yes, EMB-145LR registered to AAL, opb ENY.

Is it already confirmed it was a bird..!?

Generally, cracked windscreens are often caused by heating element malfunctions.

Cracked or crazed windscreen not that unusual, had two or three in my time. A bit scary when it happens, but no big deal.
I bet there's at least one a month somewhere in the world.

I don't think it's a bird strike as windows look quite different with a birdstrike (they are very strong and extremely rare to break without metal parts involved)

Too bad they released photos to confuse the media and scare the public

Yes, should be "no big deal." Unless the pilots panic, as in that King Air 200 incident years ago, they dumped cabin pressure, then emergency O2 system failed, and they darn near tore the tail off the aircraft while recovering from the resultant dive. ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft B200 King Air N777AJ Cape Girardeau Airport, MO (CGI) (aviation-safety.net)

Your typical windscreen is a sandwich, glass inner and outer plies, around a thick plexiglass ( for the transatlantics) layer. Loss of the outer ply ( as it looks in this case) does not necessarily compromise windscreen structural integrity.

No need to turn around..Imflew for many hours with a cracked windshield..

I haven't seen where they were headed, but I'm guessing they wanted to go somewhere where it could be easily repaired.

Cleveland - see post #1.

It depends on which layer was cracked, and where the company wants to conduct the maintenance to replace the window.

Inner pane or outer pane can make a big difference . I use a pen to determine whether the cracks are on the inside or outside . The back of your nails works just like you were buying marble . Ad Unguem .
Do not touch the glass with any soft parts of you hand as it might be on the inside and any glass slivers might not be healthy if they get in your blood .
If you are sitting behind a crack windscreen make sure you are well below the recommended speeds and ready for what may happen next , it would not be considered cowardice to lower your head out of the way of any possible flying glass until you get below the recommended speeds and cabin pressures. :)