Current:Home > InvestFlorida-bound passenger saw plane was missing window thousands of feet in the air, U.K. investigators say -GrowthProspect
Florida-bound passenger saw plane was missing window thousands of feet in the air, U.K. investigators say
View
Date:2025-04-12 10:29:56
A passenger on a Florida-bound charter flight from the U.K. saw the plane was missing a window when the jetliner was thousands of feet in the air, according to investigators. The plane turned around and safely returned to England without anyone onboard suffering any injuries on the early October flight.
Investigators later found that two outer windowpanes were missing and another outer pane and an inner pane were dislodged on the Airbus A321, according to a report released Nov. 3 by the U.K.'s Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
The plane's cabin didn't lose pressure during the flight, according to the agency's report.
The charter flight was heading from London's Stansted Airport to Orlando International Airport with 11 crew members and nine passengers onboard. The plane was being used for a multiday charter, and everyone onboard either worked for the tour operator or the company that operates the plane.
Several passengers told investigators that after takeoff the cabin "seemed noisier and colder than they were used to," the report said.
When the flight climbed past an altitude of 10,000 feet, passengers were allowed to unfasten their seat belts. A man walking toward the back of the plane told investigators he noticed the cabin noise getting louder and a window caught his attention.
"He observed that the window seal was flapping in the airflow and the windowpane appeared to have slipped down," the report says. "He described the cabin noise as 'loud enough to damage your hearing.'"
The man alerted the crew and the pilots. The aircraft got to an altitude of just over 14,500 feet before the pilots stopped climbing any higher and eventually decided to return to Stansted.
On the day before the flight, a film crew used the plane on the ground with high-powered lights directed toward the plane's windows for hours, according to the report.
"The windows appear to have sustained thermal damage and distortion because of elevated temperatures while illuminated for approximately four to five and a half hours during filming," the report found.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
- In:
- Florida
- Orlando
- United Kingdom
Alex Sundby is a senior editor for CBSNews.com.
TwitterveryGood! (9173)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Open Call
- ESPN networks, ABC and Disney channels go dark on DirecTV on a busy night for sports
- Don't Speed Past Keanu Reeves and Alexandra Grant's Excellent Love Story
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Caitlin Clark returns to action: How to watch Fever vs. Wings on Sunday
- California lawmakers pass ambitious bills to atone for legacy of racism against Black residents
- These 10 old Ford Mustangs are hugely underappreciated
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- What restaurants are open on Labor Day? Hours and details for McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, more
Ranking
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Pregnant Cardi B and Offset Reunite to Celebrate Son Wave's 3rd Birthday Amid Divorce
- Thousands of US hotel workers strike over Labor Day weekend
- On the first day without X, many Brazilians say they feel disconnected from the world
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- One man dead, others burned after neighborhood campfire explodes
- Watch this smart pup find her owner’s mom’s grave with ease despite never meeting her
- Hoping to return to national elite, USC defense, Miller Moss face first test against LSU
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
The Rural Americans Too Poor for Federal Flood Protections
Youth football safety debate is rekindled by the same-day deaths of 2 young players
Watch as shooting star burns brightly, awes driver as it arcs across Tennessee sky
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
American road cyclist Elouan Gardon wins bronze medal in first Paralympic appearance
7 killed, dozens injured in Mississippi bus crash
American men making impact at US Open after Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz advance