A thermal barrier coating system is provided. The thermal barrier coating system may include a first layer of ceramic insulating material (21) (see FIG. 1) disposed on a substrate surface. The thermal barrier coating system may also include a second layer of ceramic insulating material (25) disposed on the first layer of ceramic insulating material. The second layer of ceramic insulating material may include one or more crack arrestors therein. A third layer of ceramic insulating material (26) is disposed on the second layer of ceramic insulating material. The third layer may be configured as a sacrificial layer to absorb mechanical shock generated in the event of a foreign object collision with the third layer. The one or more crack arrestors in the second layer can avoid propagation towards the first layer of one or more cracks that can form in the event of the foreign object collision with the third layer.