Ryanair Passenger Nearly Pulled Through Broken Window

Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany say one man ended up with his head and shoulders outside a broken window after a loud bang mid-flight. The Boeing 737 had just departed Thessaloniki for Memmingen on Friday when witnesses reported a sudden noise, cabin depressurization, falling oxygen masks, and the Serbian man, believed to be in his 60s, left hanging out of the aircraft until others pulled him back in. He had reportedly kept his seat belt on, reports the BBC, which fellow passengers said likely prevented a worse outcome.

Ryanair said the jet, operated by its subsidiary Malta Air, turned back "shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight" and landed normally, with one passenger receiving medical help on the ground. Greek and German outlets reported that travelers suspect engine debris may have shattered the window, reports Sky News, though the airline has not addressed that claim. A replacement aircraft later completed the route. Aviation authorities in Greece, Malta, and Ireland say they are involved in or assisting with the investigation. The incident echoes a 2018 Southwest Airlines case in the US in which a passenger died after being partially pulled through a broken window.