Ryanair cabin window incident leaves passenger nearly sucked out

In the morning of 10 July, a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen experienced a sudden 9,000‑ft descent after a cabin window blew away mid‑air.

Passengers described an abrupt mechanical failure, noting that the aircraft let out a sudden 'explosion' sound and that oxygen masks dropped. The incident left a 61‑year‑old passenger hovering head‑first above the broken hatch for most of the flight before other passengers pulled him back into the cabin.

Greek hospital officials said the affected passenger is receiving treatment for friction burns and remains conscious while in shock.

Ryanair stated that the plane returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take‑off, landed normally, and passengers were then flown to Memmingen by a replacement aircraft.

Investigation teams from the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority have been called to review the incident. Retired pilot Chris Brady warned that a seat belt had saved the passenger’s life.

A similar event in 2018 caused a Southwest Airlines passenger to suffer partial ejection after a damaged engine shattered a passenger window.