A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Germany experienced a sudden 9,000‑ft descent and a cabin window blew out midair, putting a passenger at risk of being pulled out of the aircraft.
Passengers on the flight reported hearing an explosion as the aircraft dropped rapidly. They observed oxygen mask panels falling and the terrifying sight of a man hanging head‑first above his skin from the broken window, though he remained seat‑belted.
The airline said the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take‑off and that a replacement plane was arranged for passengers to reach Memmingen several hours later.
Investigations are now being conducted by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority and Fraport Greece, with the airline’s subsidiary Malta Air distributing the aircraft used in the incident.
Passengers recounted the sudden decompression, the smell of airlessness, and the man's bleeding and brief unconsciousness, likely due to lack of oxygen. A Greek hospital official confirmed that a 61‑year‑old Serbian man was being treated for friction burns after the incident.
Some passengers suspect that debris from a damaged engine may have smashed the window, a theory that echoes a 2018 Southwest Airlines accident where engine debris caused a window breakup.
A retired pilot emphasized the importance of keeping seat belts fastened during flight even after the belt sign has been turned off, noting that the incident could have been more dangerous had the passenger not been strapped in.
The incident has sparked discussion about aircraft alarm systems, emergency response, and maintenance protocols to prevent such dangerous events in the future.
