AT CRUISE ON BOARD B727-200; CABIN WINDOW FAILURE CAUSING DIVERT TO ALTERNATE FOR MAINT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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APPROX 30 MINS INTO FLT; #2 FLT ATTENDANT CAME TO COCKPIT TO ADVISE CAPT OF PROB WITH A WINDOW. THE FE WENT BACK TO MID CABIN TO CHK WINDOW. HE ADVISED CAPT. CAPT THEN WENT TO ASSESS SIT. CAPT CAME BACK TO COCKPIT AND INFORMED #2 FLT ATTENDANT VIA PHONE TO RESEAT PAX AWAY FROM WINDOW. HE TOLD ME THAT WE WERE DSNDING IMMEDIATELY; DIVERTING TO RDU; AND LNDG IN APPROX 20 MINS. CAPT MADE A PA INFORMING PAX; AFTER WHICH I GAVE THE PREPARE FOR LNDG PA. ALL TRAYS WERE OUT IN FIRST CLASS. DEADHEADING FLT ATTENDANT (MIA) CAME FORWARD TO HELP AND ALSO GAVE A PA IN SPANISH. AFTER LNDG SAFELY IN RDU; WE SAW THAT THE ENTIRE WINDOW ON THE OUTSIDE WAS GONE -- ONLY THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE INSIDE WAS INTACT! THE ALERTNESS AND QUICK ACTIONS OF FLT ATTENDANT #2 IN REGARD TO THE PROB AVERTED A POTENTIAL DISASTER. HOW WAS DISCOVERED (DETAILS): FLT ATTENDANT #2 WHO WAS ON BEVERAGE CART IN MID CABIN HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE SUITCASE HAD BEEN DROPPED. FLT ATTENDANT TURNED TO LOOK BACK AT CABIN AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING; THEN WALKED AFT. AS SHE APCHED WINDOW EXITS AND LOOKED L AND R; ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY; A PAX POINTED TO A WINDOW. AT THE SAME TIME; SHE NOTICED THE WINDOW -- 2 INCH AREA AROUND WINDOW LOOKED LIKE BUBBLE WRAP AND CRACKED! SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 404755: DURING DSCNT; MANY CHILDREN CRIED DUE TO EAR PAIN. I STAYED IN THE AISLE ASSISTING THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS AS LONG AS I COULD BEFORE WE TOUCHED DOWN. AFTER LNDG; I CALLED THE COCKPIT TO TELL THEM THAT MANY CHILDREN HAD EXPERIENCED EAR PAIN DURING DSCNT.