Man Nearly Suctioned From Ryanair Plane Window

A sudden loss of cabin pressure and a window rupture on a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Germany left one passenger dangling head‑first at the edge of the cabin for several seconds before fellow travelers pulled him back inside.

Flight data shows the aircraft climbed to about 9,000 feet (2,700 metres) before it abruptly fell 9,000 feet over roughly ten minutes. Passengers heard what they described as an “explosion” and a strong smell of burning rubber.

Witnesses told local radio that the air‑liner’s cabin window had blown apart, sending a stream of free‑air out the opening and pulling the 61‑year‑old Serbian passenger toward the window. He was held by the seats of other passengers and then pulled back inside with the help of the cabin crew. He was treated in Thessaloniki for friction burns and is now in shock but conscious.

Ryanair issued a statement saying the flight “returned shortly after take‑off when a passenger window dislodged in flight” and that the aircraft landed “normally.” The airline arranged a replacement plane to transport passengers to Memmingen a few hours later.

The cabin crew reported an instant decompression, masks dropping and the sound of passengers screaming. “We immediately realized there had been a decompression,” one passenger, Christina, said to Radio Thessaloniki. She described a moment when she feared an emergency exit had opened.

Another passenger, Sofia, described the severe lack of oxygen and the shock she watched the injured man undergo as he lost consciousness several times. She noted that without a seat belt the incident could have been far worse.

Thessaloniki airport operator Fraport Greece confirmed the accident is under investigation by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority and that emergency response procedures were activated. The Irish Aviation Authority also stated it was aware and ready to assist investigators.

An ex‑pilot, Chris Brady, warned that seat belts should always remain fastened even when the belt sign is off. He explained the belts protect passengers from sudden movements during turbulence or unexpected events like this.

Earlier aircraft incidents in the United States have shown similar dangers when debris from damaged engines or ravaged windows pulls passengers toward or partially outside the cabin. In 2018 a Southwest Airlines passenger was partially sucked out after an engine spike damaged a window.