Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say
Passenger Near Miss as Window Detaches During Ryanair Flight
Man nearly sucked out of window - Travelers on a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen recounted a harrowing experience when a man was almost drawn out of the aircraft through a broken window mid-flight. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, with the plane descending abruptly by nearly 9,000 feet before stabilizing. Some passengers described hearing a loud noise, likening it to an explosion, as the emergency situation unfolded.
Emergency Response and Injuries
A Greek hospital official confirmed that a 61-year-old Serbian man sustained friction burns and was in shock following the incident. According to Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees, the man’s wife held onto his legs for about five minutes to prevent him from being fully ejected. "He is in shock, remains conscious," Giannakos noted.
"We immediately realized there had been a decompression. There were screams... for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door," Christina, a fellow passenger, told Radio Thessaloniki.
"When the oxygen masks dropped, we had no idea what was going to happen. We didn’t know whether we would make it back," Sofia, another traveler, added. "The decompression was extreme. It felt like we couldn’t breathe. The man who was injured was bleeding and then lost consciousness several times, most likely due to the lack of oxygen and the shock."
Ryanair’s Statement and Aftermath
Ryanair stated that its Friday morning flight, operated by Malta Air, returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff due to a dislodged passenger window. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely, and one passenger received medical attention upon arrival. A replacement plane was arranged to transport the remaining travelers to Memmingen several hours later.
Fraport Greece, the operator of Thessaloniki airport, mentioned that the incident is under investigation by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority. The company emphasized its cooperation with authorities and activation of emergency protocols after the forced return.
Expert Insight and Historical Context
Chris Brady, a retired airline pilot, highlighted the importance of seat belts during such events. "Had the seat belt not been fastened, the situation could have been far worse," he said, recalling standard safety advice to keep seat belts secured even when the belt signs are off.
The incident echoes a 2018 tragedy on a Southwest Airlines flight in the U.S., where debris from a damaged engine caused a window to rupture, partially ejecting a passenger. This event underscores the critical role of cabin pressure and emergency procedures in aviation safety.
Additional Reporting
Additional coverage by Mark Allison and Nikos Papanikolaou. Ryanair also faces scrutiny over its practice of charging parents to accompany children on flights.