Jakarta, ThedailyID — A Ryanair passenger narrowly escaped being pulled out of a plane after a cabin window detached during a flight from Greece to Germany.
The incident occurred on a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen and sparked panic inside the aircraft. A Serbian passenger survived because he kept his seatbelt fastened, allowing nearby passengers to pull him back into the cabin.
Authorities said on Friday, July 10, 2026, that the passenger suffered minor abrasions and received hospital treatment. His condition remains stable.
One passenger said most people were asleep when a loud bang echoed through the cabin.
“It sounded like a tire exploding. We immediately realized the aircraft had suffered decompression,” the passenger told Radio Thessaloniki, as cited by VNExpress.
The witness said panic spread quickly as passengers screamed and oxygen masks automatically dropped from the overhead compartments.
“For a moment, I thought someone had opened the emergency exit. The oxygen masks fell, and there was a very strong smell,” the passenger said.
According to the witness, the force of the decompression pushed the injured passenger’s head and shoulders outside the aircraft.
“Fortunately, he was wearing his seatbelt. Other passengers immediately pulled him back inside,” the witness added.
Greek media reported that the incident occurred while the aircraft flew over North Macedonia. Initial reports suggested debris from one of the engines may have struck the window, although investigators have not confirmed the exact cause.
Ryanair said the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff because a passenger window detached during the flight. The airline added that the aircraft landed safely and all passengers returned to the terminal without further injuries.
The airline later arranged a replacement aircraft to transport passengers to Memmingen. Meanwhile, Boeing said it is aware of the incident and is coordinating with Ryanair.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft was a Boeing 737-800 and said it is ready to provide technical assistance to Greek authorities and aviation investigators.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said North Macedonia will lead the investigation because the incident occurred in its airspace. The agency has appointed a U.S. representative to work alongside the FAA, Boeing, and General Electric Aerospace if needed.
