Flight rose 14,000ft before crew realised two window panes were missing

10 November 2023 , 02:41

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The plane had reached 14,000 feet before a crew member noticed the missing window panes (Image: PA)

A flight carrying nine passengers was 14,000 feet in the air on its way to the US when a crew member suddenly realised two of its window panes were missing, prompting a quick landing.

The Titan Airways plane was flying from London Stansted Airport to Orlando but was forced to return after a crew member discovered the issue early on in the flight. "More serious consequences," could have occurred according to a report made by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The AAIB report said: “Whereas in this case the damage became apparent at around FL100 (10,000 feet) and the flight was concluded uneventfully, a different level of damage by the same means might have resulted in more serious consequences, especially if window integrity was lost at higher differential pressure.”

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There were nine passengers aboard (PA)

The Airbus A321 jet, previously used by the government, was left with two window panes covered in just a scratch pane, the plastic inner part of the window used to stop passengers touching the panes further out. The aircraft was being used by Titan Airways and used by TCS World Travel, a luxury holiday company based in the US.

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The aircraft was carrying 11 crew members consisting of three pilots, an engineer, loadmaster, and six cabin crew. Nine passengers were also onboard. The incident occurred one day after the aircraft was used for filming on the ground. In a preliminary report, AAIB officials said powerful lights were set up close to the plane to "give the illusion of a sunrise."

The AAIB report suggests the windows were damaged by large lights the day before (ABC NEWS 7)

Evidence suggests the powerful lights had caused the panes to disappear. They shone on both sides of the windows for about four to five hours each. The AAIB said the lights were never meant to be that close to the aircraft as the rule stated they were to be no closer than 10 metres from the object illuminated. Instead, they were between six and nine metres from the damaged windows, according to The Independent.

The AAIB said there could have been dire consequences if the windows weren't found (PA)

The AAIB's report said the window's cohesive foam either melted or disappeared (PA)

It is unclear why officials held the filming event. After take-off and the seatbelt signs were switched off, a crew member noticed a seal around one of the windows in the back of the plane "flapping." They quickly alerted the other crew who decided to return to Stansted. An examination revealed that foam used to hold the windows in place had eroded.

The AAIB said it was one of two explanations: the foam had melted at some point due to high temperatures or it was simply "missing." This comes as individuals become weary of flights. The aviation industry is short about 32,000 commercial pilots, mechanics and air traffic controllers, who have been overworked recently leading to various close calls.

Mataeo Smith