The U.K.’s Air Accidents Investigations Branch revealed that a U.S.-bound aircraft took off from London’s Stansted Airport with four damaged window panes, including two that were missing, posing a significant safety concern for the passengers and crew on board. The plane carried 11 crew members and nine passengers, all employees of either the tour company or the aircraft’s operating company. The issue of the missing windows was not discovered until the plane was already climbing in altitude, causing a significant change in cabin temperature and noise. The flight was ultimately turned back and landed safely back at Stansted Airport after a 36-minute flight.
Investigators determined that the window malfunctions were likely caused by high-power lights used in a film shoot, which were placed within 20 to 30 feet of the aircraft and directed toward it for over nine hours. The heat generated by these lights caused a foam liner to melt away from at least one of the windows, and several others appeared to have been warped by the thermal heat. Despite the potential for serious consequences, none of the passengers or crew were injured as a result of the damaged windows. This incident brings to light the potential risks and near-misses that can occur in commercial air travel, highlighting the importance of safety protocols and thorough inspections to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future.
In 2018, a Southwest Airlines passenger was fatally injured when she was partially sucked out of a plane window that was shattered by shrapnel from an exploded engine. This recent incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with airplane window damage and the need for thorough assessments of potential risks. The Air Accidents Investigations Branch is continuing their assessment of the situation to determine possible safety implications and provide appropriate recommendations to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
