Key facts
- A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Germany returned to Greece after a passenger window dislodged.
- The incident caused cabin depressurization, and a passenger was partially sucked out of the window.
- Fellow passengers pulled back the man, who suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.
- The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800.
- The NTSB was notified of a right engine issue and cabin decompression.
A Ryanair flight bound for Germany returned to Thessaloniki, Greece, shortly after takeoff on Friday due to a dislodged passenger window, leading to cabin depressurization and a dramatic mid-air rescue. Fellow passengers managed to pull back a 61-year-old man who was partially sucked out of the broken window, sustaining neck, shoulder injuries, and friction burns.
The incident occurred on a morning flight operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, from Thessaloniki to Memmingen. Passengers reported hearing a loud bang, the deployment of oxygen masks, and a significant loss of altitude. One passenger described the terrifying moment when the man's head, neck, and shoulders were pulled out of the window.
Ryanair stated the flight returned to Thessaloniki due to the window dislodging in-flight. While the airline did not immediately comment on reports of an engine issue, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed it was notified of both a right engine issue and cabin decompression. The investigation into the cause of the incident will be led by North Macedonia's Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800, delivered to Ryanair in 2008. Flight records indicate it climbed past 15,000 feet before descending rapidly to burn fuel for about 30 minutes prior to returning to Thessaloniki. The plane landed normally, and passengers were transferred to a replacement aircraft to continue their journey to Germany. A former airline pilot emphasized the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened during flight, noting that rapid decompression can create a powerful suction effect.