In brief
During a morning Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Germany, the aircraft abruptly descended about 9,000 feet, rupturing a cabin window and causing a fragment of the fuselage to be torn outward. Passengers recount hearing an explosion, seeing oxygen masks drop, and observing a Serbian man’s head and shoulders appear outside the opening before being pulled back with his seat belt still fastened. Ryanair confirmed the aircraft returned and that a replacement plane was arranged for passengers. The incident is under investigation by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority, with similar past incidents cited to stress seat‑belt safety.
During a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany, the aircraft suddenly descended about 9,000 feet in mid‑flight, rupturing a cabin window and tearing a section of fuselage outward.
Passengers heard an explosion and saw oxygen masks drop. The pilot and crew managed to land the plane and return it to Thessaloniki for a forced stop.
“A 61‑year‑old Serbian national was treated at a Greek hospital for friction burns. His wife held onto his legs for about five minutes to stop him from being sucked out,” said Greek hospital official Michalis Giannakos.
Passengers said the victim’s head and shoulders were hanging out of the window before others pulled him back.
The flight returned after the cabin window dislodged. Ryanair’s statement confirmed the aircraft landed normally, passengers returned to the terminal, and one passenger received medical assistance on the ground. A replacement aircraft was scheduled to carry passengers to Memmingen the following day.
Fraport Greece, the operator of Thessaloniki airport, said the incident is under investigation by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority, and that all emergency protocols have been activated. The Irish Aviation Authority has offered assistance to investigators.
Retired pilot Chris Brady warned that the incident could have been worse had the victim’s seat belt not been fastened, citing the routine advice for passengers to keep seat belts fastened even when the sign is off.
In 2018, a Southwest Airlines flight in the U.S. had a similar event when debris from a damaged engine caused a window to break, partially pulling a passenger out.
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