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Explained in plain English

Who inspects planes?

Various bodies inspect planes to ensure they're safe. National aviation authorities, like the CAA in the UK or the FAA in the US, oversee inspections. Airlines also have their own maintenance teams who regularly check aircraft. Independent organisations can also be contracted. This multi-layered approach aims to prevent incidents like the broken window on the Ryanair flight.

Stories that explain this

Ryanair passenger offered rebooking after window incident

Related explainers

Why do plane windows break? Are ADs always urgent? Airline's duty of care? What is an airworthiness directive? What is an audit? What causes ADs? Who checks the rules? What happens at 20,000 feet?

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