ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 346543
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| Date: | Wednesday 4 October 2023 |
| Time: | 11:20 UTC |
| Type: |  Airbus A321-253NX |
| Owner/operator: | Titan Airways |
| Registration: | G-OATW |
| MSN: | 10238 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2020 |
| Engine model: | CFMI LEAP-1A33 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 20 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near London-Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS), Essex -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | London-Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS) |
| Orlando International Airport, FL (MCO/KMCO) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Titan Airways flight ZT305, an Airbus A321-253NX, departed London-Stansted Airport (STN) on the first stage of an around the world flight.
In the climb at approximately 10,000ft, the crew noticed excessive cabin noise and the aircraft executed a turn back to London Stansted. It was discovered that 3 windows were missing and loose, and damage to LH stabiliser.
The aircraft in question had been operated on behalf of the U.K. Government in VIP configuration for 18 months. It was flown to Southend Airport on September 23, 2023 to be returned for Titan Airways service. On October 2, it was ferried to London-Stansted Airport.
The day before the occurrence flight the aircraft had been used for filming on the ground, during which external lights had been shone through the cabin windows to give the illusion of a sunrise. The lights were first shone on the right side of the aircraft for approximately five and a half hours, with the light focused on the cabin windows just aft of the overwing exits. The lights were then moved to the left side of the aircraft where they illuminated a similar area on the left side for approximately four hours. Photographs taken during filming showed six sets of flood lights on both sides of the aircraft.
The lights were between approximately 6 and 9 m from the window areas where damage was apparent.
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 that the flood lights were positioned closer than 10 m. Whereas in this case the damage became apparent at around FL100 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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/serious-incident-to-an-airbus-a321-operated-by-titan-airways-on-04-10-2023-near-london/
https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/inspection-finds-windows-missing-after-titan-a321lr-aborts-climb-out-of-london-stansted/155379.article
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/g-oatw#324c05c1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Oct-2023 10:22 | harro | Added |
| 13-Oct-2023 10:47 | harro | Updated |
| 14-Oct-2023 07:29 | Aerossurance | Updated |
| 04-Nov-2023 10:10 | harro | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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