A passenger aboard a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was partially sucked out of a broken window and had to be pulled back into the cabin by fellow travelers. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff on Friday morning at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang before a window shattered. A man seated next to the window was then reportedly "sucked up to his shoulders" out of the aircraft. Passengers managed to hold him down to prevent him from being pulled further out, with his wife reportedly holding his legs for several minutes. Oxygen masks deployed during the event.
The Boeing 737-800 was forced to turn back and land at Thessaloniki Airport. According to flight data, the plane was in the air for one hour and 14 minutes before returning.
Ryanair confirmed the incident, stating that a passenger window dislodged inflight. The airline arranged for a replacement aircraft to take passengers to Memmingen, which departed later that morning. One passenger received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.
The passenger who was exposed to the outside is reported to be a 61-year-old Serbian national. He sustained injuries to his neck, abrasions, and burns. He was conscious but in shock. A pregnant woman on board was also taken to the hospital as a precaution and has since been released.
Greek media has speculated that the window failure may have been caused by a piece of the plane's engine breaking off, though this has not been officially confirmed. The flight crew opted to return to Thessaloniki immediately following the incident.