Passenger partially pulled from broken window on Greece-to-Germany flight

A passenger on a commercial flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was partially pulled through a detached window before fellow travelers pulled him back inside, a witness told Greek media. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff on Friday, July 10.

m. local time. The 61-year-old man, identified by Greek media as a tourist from Serbia, was hospitalized with neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns but was otherwise reported in good condition.

Sequence of events A woman seated nearby told Radio Thessaloniki that most passengers had been asleep when a loud noise occurred. She described the sound as similar to a tire bursting and said oxygen masks deployed immediately afterward. "The head and shoulders of one passenger were outside the window.

Fortunately, he hadn't taken off his seat belt," the woman said. Other passengers near the man helped pull him inside. Video circulating on social media, which CBS News could not independently verify, showed a broken window and hanging oxygen masks inside the cabin.

Investigation and response The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it is aware of the incident and is in contact with U.S. authorities. The agency stated it will follow developments and take any airworthiness actions needed. The FAA said it stands ready to assist local authorities and the NTSB.

Greek media reported the window broke after debris struck the aircraft over North Macedonia. The company operating the flight said the aircraft landed normally, passengers returned to the terminal, and a replacement plane was provided for the remaining passengers.