"Why Is It So Cold?" Discovered Two Windows Missing During 4300m Sky Flight

Damage Realized Late, Return Flight
"Damage Due to High-Power Lighting, etc."

An absurd incident occurred on a British passenger plane when a window fell out during flight, causing the plane to return to the airport just 36 minutes after takeoff.

According to CNN and NBC NEWS on the 9th (local time), last month on the 4th, a British Airbus A321 aircraft scheduled to fly from London Stansted Airport in the UK to Orlando Airport in Florida, USA, took off with several cabin windows damaged.

At the time, there were 11 crew members and 9 passengers on board. They were unaware of the window damage at the time of takeoff.

The photo shows the window as found at the time of the accident. [Image source=UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch website]

However, after takeoff, passengers complained that "the cabin was colder and noisier than usual." Upon inspection by the crew, it was discovered that the left cabin windows were damaged. When the crew found the broken windows, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of at least 14,000 feet (approximately 4,267 meters).

The crew immediately informed the captain and engineers of the situation. They also instructed passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened and to use oxygen masks if necessary.

Eventually, after inspection by the engineers, it was determined that the plane could not continue flying, and the aircraft returned after 36 minutes. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

After landing, an inspection revealed that two windows had fallen out, and the remaining two windows were either cracked or protruding outward.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) explained the cause of the accident, stating, "A filming event lasting about 4 to 5 hours took place inside the aircraft the day before," and "It appears that the high-intensity lighting used and the resulting heat caused the windows to distort and become damaged." They added, "If the windows had broken under a higher pressure difference, it could have resulted in serious consequences."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.