Florida-bound flight from London forced to turn around after missing and damaged windowpanes discovered
A Florida-bound flight was forced to turn around abruptly after departing London with missing and damaged windowpanes, a report has revealed.
Several cabin windowpanes on the Airbus A321 had been damaged by high-power floodlights used during filming to create the illusion of a sunrise, according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
But the damage was only discovered after the aircraft had taken off and climbed to around 14,500ft.
“More serious consequences” could have occurred if the “window integrity was lost at a higher differential pressure”, the AAIB said in a special bulletin released on the incident.
The chartered flight was due to travel to Orlando International Airport from Stansted Airport on 4 October, carrying nine passengers and 11 crew members.
Several passengers said the aircraft cabin seemed “noisier and colder” than they were used to, after the seatbelt signs had been switched off.
The crew realised something was wrong when a member of staff noticed the seal on a window on the left side of the plane was “flapping in the airflow”, and “the windowpane appeared to have slipped down”.
They described the noise as “loud enough to damage your hearing”.
The pilot reduced flight speed before the aircraft turned around just 36 minutes after take-off, landing safely at Stansted.
An inspection on the ground found two windowpanes were missing, while a third was “dislodged” and a fourth “protruded from the left side” of the jet.
A diagram in the AAIB report showing damage to windowpanes on the left side of the aircraft. Pic: AAIB
‘Thermal damage’ caused by floodlights
The panes had been subjected to “thermal damage” after being exposed to intense lighting for up to five hours a day earlier, with the floodlights “likely” positioned closer than the recommended 10m, the report found.
A shattered outer pane was recovered during the inspection, while some of the foam ring material lining windows was found to be melted.
The damaged windowpanes were “deformed and shrunk” and “no longer formed an effective interface with rubber seals”.
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Damage to the aircraft. Pic: AAIB
The AAIB report added: “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 activity the day before the flight.
“It is likely the floodlights were positioned closer than 10m.”
An investigation is ongoing with the aircraft manufacturer and operator to “fully understand the properties of the lights used and how this risk can be managed in future”, the AAIB said.
“Aircraft owners and operators should consider the hazard posed by such activities to minimise the risk of aircraft damage,” the watchdog added.
The investigation into the incident continues.
UK
Masked burglars ‘raid’ Windsor Castle grounds ‘while William, Kate and children slept at home on estate’
Masked burglars have stolen farm vehicles from the Windsor Castle estate while members of the Royal Family are believed to have been asleep nearby.
Two men scaled a 6ft fence on the night of 13 October and used a stolen truck to break through a security gate, The Sun first reported.
The pair then fled with a pick-up and a quad bike that were stored in a barn.
The King and Queen were not in residence.
But the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Louis were believed to have been in their home, Adelaide Cottage, on the estate, according to The Sun.
The family moved there in 2022.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “At around 11.45pm on Sunday 13 October, we received a report of burglary at a property on Crown Estate land near to the A308 in Windsor.
“Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.”
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On Christmas Day 2021, a man climbed a fence at Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow and claimed he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Jaswant Singh Chail was handed a nine-year custodial sentence for treason, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.
The UK is braced for “disruptive snow” as yellow weather warnings cover large parts of the country until Tuesday – with the Met Office saying there is the “potential” for the alerts to be “escalated”.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office has also told people to expect ice, cold temperatures and wintry showers this week.
Check the forecast in your area
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of the north of the country – covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Wales and the north of England – from 7pm on Monday night to 10am on Tuesday morning.
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People are also warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has said there will be bright spells across northern and eastern areas throughout today, but rain in the south and west will gradually spread northeastwards and turn to snow over northern hills.
Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
The yellow weather warnings in place across the UK
Meanwhile, a yellow snow and ice weather warning that came into force at 4pm on Sunday will end at 11am this morning.
The warning covers the northern tip of Scotland and people there have been told there may be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.
The Met Office has said there is “potential” for both yellow warnings to be “escalated”.
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
The meteorologist said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
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Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, the meteorologist added.
He said: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
It comes as a cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency, which was introduced at 9am on Sunday, will be in place until 9am on Thursday.
It covers a large area of England, north of Northhampton. The alert is triggered when there is a risk that healthcare services might face extra pressure and is designed to prepare those who are “particularly vulnerable” and “likely to struggle to cope”.
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