THESSALONIKI, Greece- A Ryanair flight bound for Germany was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Greece after a passenger was partially sucked out through a dislodged window during a mid-air incident, according to airport officials and the airline.
The Boeing 737 Next Generation (737 NG) aircraft had departed Thessaloniki Airport for Memmingen, Germany, on Friday when it returned to the Greek city after a passenger window became detached during the flight.
A Serbian passenger who was seated near the damaged window suffered injuries after being partially pulled through the opening before fellow passengers managed to pull him back inside the aircraft.
The man was taken to AHEPA University General Hospital in Thessaloniki, where he was receiving treatment. Serbian consular officials said his injuries were not considered life-threatening, although doctors were still assessing their full extent.
Serbian media, citing a passenger aboard the flight, reported that the victim’s head and shoulders had been forced outside the aircraft before other passengers intervened.
Ryanair confirmed that the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki after a passenger window became dislodged during the flight.
“The aircraft landed normally, and passengers returned to the terminal,” the airline said in a statement.
The cause of the incident has not been officially established.
However, Greek media reported that part of an engine may have broken off shortly after takeoff, striking the fuselage and shattering the window, leading to rapid cabin decompression. Two airport sources familiar with the investigation also relayed the same account to Reuters.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show damage consistent with an uncontained engine failure, including missing fan blades on one of the aircraft’s engines. Reuters said it could not independently verify the footage.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft turning back to Thessaloniki shortly after departure.
The same aircraft had also returned to Thessaloniki during a flight to Sarajevo on Thursday evening, according to flight tracking data and a source familiar with the matter. The reason for that diversion has not been disclosed.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 NG and said it was prepared to assist with the investigation.
Boeing said it was supporting the investigation, which is being led by North Macedonia because the incident occurred within its airspace.
“We remain in contact with and continue to support our customer, Ryanair,” the manufacturer said.
The aircraft remained grounded in Thessaloniki as investigators examined the damage.
Echoes of a Fatal 2018 Accident
The incident has drawn comparisons with the 2018 Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 accident, when an engine fan blade failure on a Boeing 737 NG caused debris to shatter a cabin window, partially pulling a passenger out of the aircraft.
The passenger later died from her injuries, marking the first fatal accident involving a U.S. passenger airline in nearly a decade.
Following that investigation, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board recommended design changes to the Boeing 737 NG’s engine fan cowl, while the FAA later ordered Boeing to implement the redesign by July 2028.
Investigations into Friday’s Ryanair incident remain ongoing.
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