Ryanair Flight Returns Safely to Thessaloniki After Window Breaks Mid-Air

A passenger on a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was left hanging head first out of a cabin window as far as his shoulders for several minutes after the window dislodged shortly after takeoff on Friday morning. Other passengers pulled the man, described as a Serbian citizen in his 60s, back inside the aircraft.

Witnesses reported a loud bang followed by the window breaking and oxygen masks falling from the ceiling.

The plane, an 18-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair's subsidiary Malta Air, returned to Thessaloniki and landed normally. Ryanair said one passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. The airline arranged a replacement aircraft to carry passengers to Memmingen several hours later.

The Irish Aviation Authority stated it is aware of the incident involving the Ryanair group aircraft registered and operated by Malta Air. The authority said it will provide assistance to the aviation safety investigation authority in Greece and the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate. One passenger told Radio Thessaloniki that the masks dropped and there was a strong smell after decompression.

The witness added that the affected passenger had not taken off his seat belt.