Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 6000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We were level at 33;000 FT when the Flight Attendants notified us that a cabin window had cracked at seat 41A.  They said that it was the outer pane.  Reportedly; made a loud bang sound when it cracked.  Captain went to cabin to look and confirmed the outer window had a crack running in a jagged pattern from the top to bottom.  Via ACARS; we talked to Maintenance Control and Dispatch.  We agreed the safest action was to return to our departure airport.  ATC cleared us to descend; turn around and proceed direct.  We had dispatch send us landing performance data; read through the diversion page in the FOM and made a normal approach and landing.
A B767-300 returned to its departure airport when the outer pane of a passenger window cracked.