Mid-air scare as Goa-Pune flight's windowpane dislodges inside
The incident occurred on Tuesday shortly after take-off from Goa. Flyers seated near the affected window described a sudden detachment of the inner plastic shell and shutter, exposing the insulation material underneath. While SpiceJet clarified that the aircraft's outer windowpane remained intact—thereby preventing cabin depressurisation—several passengers called the episode frightening and unacceptable.
'There was no cabin depressurisation, and passenger safety was not compromised,' SpiceJet said in a statement issued after the incident. However, visuals shared online by passengers showed the dislodged window trim inside the flight hanging loose, with cabin crew seen attempting to temporarily reattach the panel during the flight.
Aatish Mishra, one of the flyers on board, posted on social media: 'SpiceJet from Goa to Pune today (Tuesday). The whole interior window assembly just fell off mid-flight. And this flight is now supposed to take off and head to Jaipur. Wonder if it's airworthy.'
Another passenger, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'Thankfully the structural outer window was intact. But the inner panel coming off mid-air is still a serious concern. This kind of thing just shouldn't happen. The flight attendants tried to handle the situation calmly. They relocated a woman and her infant to another seat. One crew member managed to fix the panel back, but it didn't look very secure. A sudden jolt and it could have come off again.'
Adding to the ordeal, the flight—originally scheduled to depart at 5.20pm—took off only at 6.55pm after a delay of over 90 minutes. Passengers said they were not informed in advance about the delay and received no explanation from the airline staff.
In its official response, a SpiceJet spokesperson downplayed the severity of the incident, calling it cosmetic in nature. 'A cosmetic window frame on one of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft became loose during flight and was found dislodged. This was a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade, and did not compromise the safety or integrity of the aircraft in any way. Cabin pressurisation remained normal throughout the flight,' the statement said.
The airline added that the window panel was repaired upon landing at the next station, in line with standard maintenance procedures.
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India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
SpiceJet faces
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): SpiceJet on Thursday acknowledged that some passengers are currently facing difficulties in reaching the airline's customer care helpline due to intermittent technical issues. The airline said efforts are underway to restore normal functioning as soon as possible. In an official message on X, SpiceJet stated, 'We are currently experiencing intermittent issues with our SpiceJet Customer Care helpline numbers. We assure you that our relevant teams are working to resolve this as soon as possible. In the meantime, please connect with us through our official social media channels. We will be glad to assist you. Stay tuned for further updates. The inconvenience caused is regretted.' Meanwhile, a minor incident occurred on board SpiceJet flight SG 1080 from Goa to Pune on Tuesday, when a cosmetic window frame became loose during the flight. The airline confirmed that the component in question was a non-structural trim piece, used primarily for shading, and did not affect the aircraft's integrity or safety. A spokesperson for SpiceJet said the incident involved a superficial frame on one of the windows of the Q400 aircraft, which became dislodged during the flight. 'A cosmetic window frame on one of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft became loose during flight and was found dislodged. It is important to note that this was a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade, and did not compromise the safety or integrity of the aircraft in any way. Cabin pressurisation remained normal throughout the flight, and there was no impact on passenger safety,' a SpiceJet spokesperson stated. Despite the visual disruption, cabin pressurisation remained normal, and there was no impact on passenger safety, the spokesperson said. The airline emphasised that the Q400 aircraft is equipped with multiple layers of window panes, including a robust, pressure-bearing outer pane that ensures continued safety even if cosmetic fittings are affected, it added. Passengers on board were not at risk at any point, and the airline has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards. The frame was fixed upon landing at the next station, in accordance with standard maintenance procedures, the airline added in its statement. (ANI)
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First Post
a day ago
- First Post
SpiceJet flight's window frame comes loose mid-air. How risky is that?
Passengers of a SpiceJet flight from Goa to Pune were in panic after a cabin window frame became loose mid-air. While no one was hurt and the plane landed safely, it has raised questions about airline safety read more A routine flight from Goa to Pune turned into a tense experience for passengers when a section of the cabin window frame inside a SpiceJet aircraft came loose mid-air earlier this week. While no one was injured and the plane landed safely, footage shared by startled passengers quickly went viral, sparking fresh concerns about airline safety. The incident raised an important question for many: just how dangerous is it when a window frame comes loose mid-air? Could it have put lives at risk? And what exactly happens in such situations? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's what we know What happened on the SpiceJet flight? SpiceJet Flight SG1080, operating a Bombardier Q400 aircraft, took off from Goa for Pune on the evening of July 1. Not long after takeoff, a passenger noticed that a part of the cabin window's interior trim had come loose. Videos soon began circulating on social media, showing the light-coloured plastic frame, known as the shade trim, dangling unsteadily from the wall. Mandar Sawant, a passenger on the flight, told The Indian Express, 'I was travelling back from Goa to Pune after attending an event. A woman was sitting behind me with a baby. Half an hour after takeoff, the window (close to her) just popped out. The woman got scared, and it was damn concerning…" He added, 'The flight attendants tried to calm us down, but what else could they even do? They moved the woman and her child to a different seat behind. The stewardess did manage to somewhat get the window back on, but any sudden movement and it probably would have fallen off again.' #SpiceJet from Goa to Pune today. The whole interior window assembly just fell off mid flight. And this flight is now supposed to take off and head to Jaipur. Wonder if it's air worthy @ShivAroor @VishnuNDTV @DGCAIndia — Aatish Mishra (@whatesh) July 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another flyer shared a video on X, showing the dislodged panel and expressing concern over the aircraft's safety. 'SpiceJet from Goa to Pune today (Tuesday). The whole interior window assembly just fell off mid-flight. And this flight is now supposed to take off and head to Jaipur. Wonder if it's airworthy,' the user wrote, tagging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). SpiceJet responds to viral video The airline later issued a clarification, saying that safety was never at risk and the flight continued without any change in cabin pressure. In an official statement, SpiceJet confirmed the loose panel was a non-structural 'cosmetic (interior) window frame' used purely for shading and had no role in maintaining cabin pressure or aircraft structure. 'It did not compromise the safety or integrity of the aircraft in any way,' the statement read. Spicejet that once the aircraft landed in Pune, engineers fixed the issue following standard maintenance protocol. File image/Reuters The airline added that once the aircraft landed in Pune, engineers fixed the issue following standard maintenance protocol. However, SpiceJet did not share additional technical details about the inspection or whether the aircraft underwent a full check before being cleared for the next leg to Jaipur. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happens if an airplane window breaks mid-air? While the SpiceJet incident involved a cosmetic panel, not the actual aircraft window, the situation raised questions about what would happen if a real window were to crack mid-flight. To understand the risks, it's important to know how airplane windows are constructed. Modern commercial aircraft windows are built in three layers: the outer pane, which holds the cabin pressure; a middle pane, which acts as a backup; and an inner plastic layer, which passengers see and can touch. The loose piece seen on the SpiceJet flight was part of this inner cosmetic trim, not the structure keeping the plane pressurised, the airline noted. Modern commercial aircraft windows are built in three layers. Image for Representation. Pixabay The outer pane is the one that matters most. As planes ascend, air pressure outside the cabin drops dramatically, while inside, the cabin is artificially pressurised to keep conditions safe and breathable. That means the outer window is holding back a significant amount of pressure, and is therefore designed to be exceptionally strong. In the rare event that an outer pane fails mid-air, the result can be rapid cabin depressurisation. The air inside the plane rushes out to equalise with the lower pressure outside. At cruising altitudes, this can lead to a sudden drop in oxygen levels. Symptoms of hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, can begin within seconds at high altitudes. Dizziness, confusion, or even unconsciousness can set in quickly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is when oxygen masks, the ones mentioned in every pre-flight safety briefing, automatically deploy. They provide passengers with emergency oxygen to keep them conscious while the pilots descend the plane to a lower, safer altitude, where the air has sufficient oxygen. So, while the SpiceJet case did not cause any harm this time, it did spotlight the importance of both safety checks in passenger aircraft. With input from agencies
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Window panel found loose mid-air on Goa-Pune SpiceJet; airline says no safety risk
Pune: Passengers on board a Goa to Pune SpiceJet flight (SG-1080) had a scare on Tuesday evening when a window panel was found dislodged while the plane was mid-air. The airline played down the incident, saying the window part that had come off was "a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade". But a person on board the plane — a Bombardier Q400 — told TOI the incident triggered anxiety among the passengers. "Two to three layers of the window panel just came off," said Aatish Mishra, the passenger. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "There was no depressurization, but this shouldn't have happened. There has to be focus on proper maintenance of interiors too, just like other technical aspects. We've just had a tragic plane crash," Mishra added. The airline in a statement said: "A cosmetic window frame on one of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft became loose during flight and was found dislodged. It is important to note that this was a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade, and did not compromise the safety or integrity of the aircraft in any way. Cabin pressurisation remained normal throughout the flight, and there was no impact on passenger safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo " Mishra said he was in row 8 of the plane when he heard commotion from the back. The Q400 can seat around 80 passengers. "The flight's scheduled departure time was 5.20pm, but it took off from Goa's Mopa around 7pm. We were mid-air when I heard noises. A mother and child just stood up from their seats. I then saw the window frame, which had come off," he told TOI. Mishra said the plane landed nearly 30 minutes later, with the broken window part. A SpiceJet spokesperson said the frame was fixed after landing, "in accordance with standard maintenance procedures". In its statement following the incident, the airline said: "The Q400 aircraft is equipped with multiple layers of window panes, including a robust, pressure-bearing outer pane, ensuring that passenger safety is never at risk, even in the unlikely event of a superficial or cosmetic component coming loose." Sources from the airline said the plane landed in Pune around 7.53pm and then took off for Jaipur at 8.58pm, where it landed at 11.08 pm. "The aircraft was checked thoroughly and repairs were done before the next take-off," an airline source said.
