US-Bound Flight Turns Back After Damaged, Missing Windows Detected Mid-Flight Due to Prior Filming Event Exposure

Flight crew and passengers on the Airbus A321, which was previously used by King Charles and UK's Prime Minister, noticed abnormal noise and cold during the journey from London to Orlando, causing the flight to be redirected back to the origin.

The Airbus A321, previously used by King Charles and the UK Prime Minister, was forced to divert and return to London Stansted Airport during a US-bound flight on October 4, 2023, due to abnormal noise and temperature issues from missing and damaged window panes.
Investigations pointed to high-power lights used during a movie filming event the day prior as the cause. The lights had been illuminated for four to five and a half hours at a closer distance than recommended, causing thermal damage and deformation to some of the windows.
The damage to the windows led to a noticeably noisier and colder cabin environment, alerting both the crew and passengers to a potential issue. The abnormal conditions were observable once the plane reached an altitude of around 14,500 feet.
Despite no abnormal indications in the cockpit, the decision was made to halt the plane's climb at 14,000 feet, reduce airspeed, and return to Stansted. The cabin remained pressurized normally throughout the 36-minute flight.
Once on the ground, it was discovered that two window panes were missing entirely, a third one was dislodged and a fourth protruded from the left side of the fuselage. The window damage represented a significant safety risk with potential for 'more serious consequences' if it had not been detected promptly.