Ryanair passenger hospitalized after engine failure causes cabin blowout

A 61-year-old passenger was hospitalized on Friday, 10 July 2026, after a mid-air emergency aboard a Ryanair flight forced the aircraft to return to Thessaloniki, Greece. The flight, operated by Malta Air on behalf of Ryanair, was en route to Memmingen, Germany, when a cabin window dislodged shortly after takeoff, leading to cabin decompression and a chaotic scene for those on board.

According to passengers, the incident began with a loud sound described as like a tire bursting while the plane was climbing. Following the noise, oxygen masks deployed in the cabin. Reports indicate that the 61-year-old Serbian man, who was seated in the window seat, was partially pulled toward the exterior of the aircraft as a result of the pressure differential. Witnesses stated that the man’s head, neck, and shoulders were outside the aircraft, and his wife, assisted by other passengers, held onto him to pull him back inside the cabin. Witnesses stated the man was wearing his seatbelt throughout the event, which prevented him from being completely sucked out of the plane.

Thessaloniki airport incident investigation

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 delivered in 2008, landed safely in Thessaloniki about an hour after its departure. While Ryanair stated that a window dislodged in-flight and confirmed that one passenger requested and received medical assistance, the airline did not immediately elaborate on the specific mechanical cause. However, a senior Greek aviation official informed ABC News that the flight suffered an uncontained engine failure, during which parts from the engine struck the fuselage and broke the passenger window. Two airport sources relayed to Reuters that a piece of the engine broke off and smashed the window, causing the cabin to decompress.

Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft climbed past 15,000 feet before descending to approximately 6,000 feet to burn fuel prior to the emergency landing. Data further revealed that the same aircraft had diverted back to Thessaloniki on the evening of Thursday, 9 July 2026, during a flight to Sarajevo, though the reason for that prior diversion remains unclear.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed it was notified of an air turnback due to a right engine issue and cabin decompression. The Republic of North Macedonia is expected to lead the investigation under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13, as the incident occurred over its territory.

Medical and mechanical aftermath

The injured passenger was treated for neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns, with authorities describing him as being in good condition. Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees in Greece, stated the man was in shock following the rescue.

The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2018 fatality involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, where engine debris broke a cabin window and resulted in the death of a passenger. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) confirmed it is in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and engine manufacturers to follow the situation and determine if further airworthiness actions are required. The FAA confirmed it stands ready to support local authorities and the NTSB in the investigation.

Ryanair arranged for a replacement aircraft to transport the remaining passengers to Memmingen, which departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 a.m. Local time on Friday. The involved aircraft remains on the ground in Thessaloniki as part of the ongoing inquiry.