Airline passenger on Greece–Germany flight ‘sucked’ into shattered window after Ryanair window broke during flight

On board a Ryanair aircraft operating a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, a serious incident occurred. A few minutes after takeoff, a loud bang was heard in the cabin, after which one of the windows suffered serious damage, leading to depressurization of the aircraft.

According to witnesses, the worst affected was a 60-year-old passenger seated by the window. Due to the sudden pressure drop, a powerful flow of air partially pulled the man toward the damaged window. His head and upper body ended up at the opening, but the seat belt prevented the passenger from leaving the seat completely. His wife and other passengers rushed to help, holding him until the crew reduced altitude and stabilized the situation. Oxygen masks automatically dropped in the cabin.

The pilot declared an emergency and decided to immediately return to the airport of departure. The plane landed safely in Thessaloniki, where the injured passenger received medical assistance. According to the airline, the other passengers were also unharmed and were later flown to Memmingen on a replacement flight.

Preliminary reports suggest the incident may have been caused by a piece of engine debris that struck and damaged the window during ascent. This version has not yet been officially confirmed and will be checked during the investigation.

Ryanair confirmed the technical incident and the aircraft’s return to the departure airport, noting that passenger safety remains the top priority. The exact cause of the incident is being determined by specialists.