A Ryanair passenger has described the moment a fellow traveller was nearly pulled out of a plane after a window detached shortly after takeoff on a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.

The aircraft returned to Thessaloniki after the incident, which witnesses said happened while the plane was flying over North Macedonia.

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Fortune held its nerve aloft

The man was a Serbian tourist and had not removed his seat belt when the window gave way.

A fellow passenger told Radio Thessaloniki that the cabin suddenly decompressed. “There was a noise, like a tire bursting.” Another passenger said, “The masks dropped and there was a strong smell.”

The narrowest of escapes, one might say

The witness said the sight was frightening, with the man’s head and shoulders outside the window before nearby passengers managed to pull him back inside the aircraft.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was aware of the incident and would support the investigation. The FAA assured it stood ready to assist local authorities and confirmed the aircraft was a Boeing 737-800.

What is the condition of the injured passenger?

Ryanair said the flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after the incident. The airline said the plane landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal, adding that a replacement aircraft was arranged to carry the remaining travellers to Memmingen.

The passenger was hospitalised with friction burns and was otherwise in stable condition. He was treated for neck and shoulder injuries as well.

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FAQs

Q1: What happened on the Ryanair flight from Greece?

A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen returned to the airport after a cabin window detached shortly after takeoff, prompting an emergency response.

Q2: Was anyone injured in the Ryanair window incident?

Yes, the passenger seated next to the detached window was treated for injuries and was reported to be in stable condition.