THESSALONIKI, Greece – A commercial flight from northern Greece to Germany returned safely to its departure airport on Friday after a passenger was partially pulled through a dislodged cabin window during a rapid decompression, with fellow travelers helping pull him back inside the aircraft.
The incident occurred shortly after a Malta Air flight operated on behalf of Ryanair departed Thessaloniki for Memmingen, near Munich. The aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki about an hour after takeoff.
A 61-year-old passenger suffered neck and shoulder injuries as well as friction burns and received medical treatment after landing, according to a Greek hospital official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Passengers describe chaotic moments after decompression
Ryanair said the flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after departure after “a passenger window dislodged in-flight.”
Passengers told Greek media they heard a loud bang before oxygen masks deployed and the aircraft began descending.
One passenger, identified only as Christina, told Radio Thessaloniki that a man seated beside the damaged window was partially pulled outside the aircraft.
“His whole head, neck, shoulders” were pulled out of the window, she said, adding that nearby passengers managed to pull him back into his seat.
“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,” she said. “We knew straight away we lost pressure because we lost altitude.”
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She described panic inside the cabin, with passengers screaming as the aircraft descended.
Investigation focuses on decompression
Ryanair has not identified the cause of the window failure.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had been notified that the aircraft returned because of “a right engine issue and cabin decompression.”
The airline did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the reported engine issue.
Under international aviation rules, the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee of North Macedonia will lead the investigation because the incident occurred within that country’s airspace. The NTSB said it is prepared to assist the inquiry.
Authorities in North Macedonia had not commented publicly on the investigation by Friday.
Videos show emergency inside aircraft
Short videos shared by Radio Thessaloniki appeared to show passengers wearing oxygen masks after the cabin lost pressure.
Another recording appeared to show the damaged window with a passenger seated nearby wearing an oxygen mask, while a separate video taken after landing showed emergency personnel assisting passengers inside the aircraft.
Aviation expert highlights importance of seatbelts
Shye Gilad, a former airline pilot who now teaches at Georgetown University’s business school, said the incident demonstrates why passengers should keep seatbelts fastened whenever seated.
He explained that rapid cabin decompression can briefly create powerful suction near a breach before pressure equalizes.
“The seatbelt can help in those first few seconds. It’s a difference maker and people should keep their seatbelts fastened at all times,” Gilad said.
He added that such events remain extremely uncommon because commercial aircraft cabins are designed to withstand significant pressure differences.
Flight landed safely after precautionary return
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800 delivered to Ryanair in 2008, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Flight data indicated the aircraft climbed above 15,000 feet (4,570 meters) approximately six minutes after takeoff before descending to around 6,000 feet (1,830 meters), where it remained for about 30 minutes to burn fuel before returning to Thessaloniki.
Ryanair said the aircraft landed normally, passengers returned to the terminal, and one passenger received medical assistance on the ground. A replacement aircraft was later arranged to complete the journey to Germany.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: Greece | Ryanair | Malta Air | Aviation Safety | Cabin Decompression | Boeing 737-800 | Germany | Air Travel
