Passenger 'nearly sucked out of window mid-air' on Ryanair-owned plane

A Ryanair passenger was nearly sucked out of a shattered cabin window during a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, on Friday, with other travelers pulling him back into the aircraft, according to multiple reports. The incident, which occurred shortly after takeoff, involved a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ryanair’s subsidiary Malta Air, and prompted an emergency landing in Thessaloniki.

The man, identified as a 61-year-old Serbian national, was seated near the window when a loud bang echoed through the cabin, followed by the shattering of the acrylic window. Witnesses described a sudden decompression, with oxygen masks deploying and passengers scrambling as the man’s head and shoulders were partially pulled outside the aircraft. A fellow passenger told Greek radio that the man “hadn’t taken off his seat belt,” which prevented him from being fully ejected. His wife reportedly held his legs for several minutes while others assisted in pulling him back inside, according to accounts from local media and emergency officials.

The flight, which had departed at 5:55 a.m. Local time, was at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet when the incident occurred. A piece of debris from the plane’s engine is believed to have struck the window, causing it to break, though Ryanair has not confirmed the cause. Greek media reported the event took place over North Macedonia, with passengers describing the noise as “like a tire bursting.” The cabin’s rapid decompression triggered panic, with one traveler recalling, “There were screams… for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door.”

The aircraft, an 18-year-old plane, returned to Thessaloniki airport shortly after the incident. All passengers were evacuated, and one individual received medical attention on the ground. The injured man, who suffered friction burns and neck wounds, was hospitalized in stable condition. A pregnant woman on board was also taken to a hospital but later discharged. Ryanair stated that a replacement aircraft was arranged to transport passengers to Memmingen, with the second flight departing at 9:53 a.m. Local time.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) confirmed it was assisting Greek and Maltese aviation investigators in probing the incident. The airline’s statement emphasized that the aircraft landed normally and no other serious injuries were reported. However, the event has raised concerns about aircraft safety, particularly following a 2018 incident in the U.S. Where a Southwest Airlines passenger died after a window shattered due to engine debris. Similar incidents include a 2024 emergency landing in Oregon after a door plug blew out, and a 2018 case in China where a co-pilot was partially sucked out of a cockpit windshield.

Aviation experts have highlighted the risks of cabin decompression, noting that seatbelts are critical in preventing ejection. A 2026 report by the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees described the Ryanair incident as “almost a tragedy,” emphasizing the narrow escape. The airline has not yet released further details on the mechanical failure, but investigators are examining the engine component and window damage. Flight data indicated the plane remained airborne for just over an hour before descending to Thessaloniki.