Man partly sucked out of broken window on flight from Greece pulled back by passengers

A man was partially sucked out of a dislodged window on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany on Friday, but was pulled back inside by fellow passengers. The 61-year-old suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns, according to a Greek hospital official. The incident occurred on a morning flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. The budget carrier stated the flight "returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take off when a passenger window dislodged in-flight."

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His whole head, neck, shoulders were pulled out of the window

Passengers reported hearing a loud bang, the deployment of oxygen masks, and a loss of altitude. One passenger, Christina, described the sound as a "tire bursting, … but very loud." She added that "his whole head, neck, shoulders" were pulled out of the window before those seated nearby rescued him. "Most people had fallen asleep, we had closed our eyes. We heard a sound... We knew straight away we lost pressure because we lost altitude. … Screams, shrieks, shouting."

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Most people had fallen asleep, we had closed our eyes. We heard a sound, I'd describe it like a tire bursting, … but very loud. We knew straight away we lost pressure because we lost altitude. … Screams, shrieks, shouting.

The plane landed safely, and passengers returned to the terminal. A replacement aircraft was later provided to take passengers to Germany. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident, citing a "right engine issue and cabin decompression." The investigation will be led by North Macedonia's Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 delivered in 2008, had climbed past 15,000 feet before descending to about 6,000 feet to burn fuel prior to returning to Thessaloniki.

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returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take off when a passenger window dislodged in-flight.