SpiceJet Aircraft Window Panel Comes Loose Mid-Flight, No Safety Threat to Passengers, Says Airline
In yet another incident raising questions about airline safety standards, a SpiceJet flight operating from Goa to Pune encountered a mid-air technical issue when the interior window frame of the aircraft became dislodged.
The airline confirmed the incident on Wednesday, assuring that passenger safety was never compromised and that the issue was purely cosmetic.
According to a statement issued by the airline, the incident involved one of its Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft, a regional commuter aircraft used for short-haul flights.
SpiceJet clarified that the part that became loose was an interior trim frame—not the actual window structure itself—and that cabin pressurisation remained stable and within safety parameters throughout the flight.
“A cosmetic (interior) window frame on one of the Q400 Aircraft became loose during flight and was found dislodged.
The dislodged component was a non-structural trim fitted onto the window to hold the window shade, and had no impact on the structural integrity or safety of the aircraft,” the airline said.
Upon landing in Pune, standard maintenance protocols were followed, and the frame was reinstalled before the aircraft was cleared for further operations.
However, SpiceJet did not release any additional information about the number of passengers on board, the flight duration, or the cause of the dislodgment.
Passenger Raises Alarm on Social Media
While the airline maintained that the situation was minor, a passenger on board the affected flight took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express concern over the incident.
The user posted a video showing the dislodged window frame dangling loosely and described how it came off during the flight.
#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 airworthy…” the passenger wrote, tagging India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in the post.
The post has since gone viral, with other users expressing concerns over SpiceJet’s safety standards and questioning how an aircraft with a visibly detached interior component could be deemed fit to fly again the same day.
Technical Clarification by SpiceJet
In response to the video and growing public scrutiny, the airline reiterated that the Q400 aircraft is designed with multiple layers of window protection, including a strong, pressure-bearing outer pane, which ensures that passengers remain safe even if the internal trim or shade assembly is compromised.
“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,” SpiceJet explained.
