Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say
BBC News 2026-07-10 12:31:08
Context: A Ryanair plane flying from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany experienced a critical incident shortly after takeoff when a cabin window dislodged, causing a passenger to nearly be sucked out. The passenger, a Serbian citizen in his 60s, was left hanging headfirst out of the window for several minutes before being pulled back inside by fellow passengers. The incident prompted an emergency response, with the plane returning to Thessaloniki and a replacement aircraft arranged to continue the journey.
Key Facts
- The Ryanair flight, operated by Malta Air, departed from Thessaloniki, Greece and was headed to Memmingen, Germany when the incident occurred shortly after takeoff.
- A passenger window dislodged, causing a Serbian citizen in his 60s to be nearly sucked out of the cabin, with his head and shoulders hanging outside the window for several minutes.
- The incident was preceded by a loud bang, followed by oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling, and passengers reported a strong smell and screams during the incident.
- The aircraft involved was an 18-year-old Boeing 737, and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is cooperating with Greek and Maltese authorities to investigate the cause of the incident.
- One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki, and a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring the remaining passengers to Memmingen several hours later.