An airline passenger from Chile films the frame of his cabin window coming loose while on flight. The passenger itself found the incident funny, but the viewers of the clip have a completely different reaction.
In a video titled "Should I be concerned?" a plane's window frame is seen slightly unhinged. When the passenger tried to pull it off, he was able to do so without any difficulty.
According to the passenger, he was flying on a low-cost airline and paid only some $30 for the flight. "The window was totally off its frame. I found it funny and recorded the video with my cellphone."
Those who have seen the video, however, did not find the situation funny at all. "O M G ! I can hardly believe that you stayed calm, because I would never have been able to," said one commenter.
Some also said that it was an accident waiting to happen, and could ultimately cause the plane to crash.
However, in a statement from the airline pilot Patrick Smith, he said there is absolutely nothing to worry about the unhinged window frame. "It's just a superficial liner that helps protect the actual window. I admit that it looks embarrassing and unprofessional, but there's no safety risk," he said.
This was supported by Dai Whittingham, chief executive of the UK Flight Safety Committee. He said that apart from "not looking particularly neat and tidy," the loose frame is "not a safety concern" and is simply an unmaintained part of the cabin.
Whittingham added that the purpose of the internal window is to protect the main glass from scratches, as well as to cut down some of the internal noise. The internal window also adds to the plane's thermal insulation, although it is not the main source.
To alleviate any worries, he explained that it is the external window that keeps the aircraft pressurized. That one is fixed to the hull and sealed with a gasket, supposedly with much less chances of coming off.
While it is a bit unsettling to see a plane's window frame unhinged, it is not particularly dangerous.
