Passenger sucked out of airplane ‘to his shoulders’ after window breaks

Passenger Partially Ejected from Aircraft as Window Malfunction Occurs

Incident Forces Ryanair Flight to Return to Thessaloniki

Passenger sucked out of airplane to his - A Ryanair flight en route to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a sudden window failure shortly after takeoff, resulting in a passenger being partially drawn out of the plane. The incident occurred on Friday, July 10, 2026, when the aircraft departed Thessaloniki and climbed to approximately 16,000 feet. The window dislodged mid-flight, creating a vacuum that pulled the unidentified man from his seat.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing back at Thessaloniki’s airport, where the man received medical attention for shock and other injuries. Ryanair stated that the aircraft landed safely and passengers were reaccommodated in the terminal. A replacement flight was swiftly arranged to continue the journey to Memmingen, departing at 9:53 local time.

“We were sitting a bit further back from where it happened, all we heard was a loud noise and then the oxygen masks dropped. The injured man was bleeding and initially fainted,” recounted a passenger to Radio Thessaloniki.

Fellow travelers on board managed to secure the man and prevent further ejection, according to Greek public broadcaster ERT. The man was reportedly pulled out head-first, with his shoulders exposed before the situation was stabilized. Flight tracking data from AirNav Radar indicated that FR1879 took off at 05:57 and returned to the same tarmac one hour and 13 minutes later.

Authorities Investigate Air Safety Protocol

The Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority (HARSIA) has begun an inquiry into the incident, as noted in a statement by Fraport Greece, the operator of Thessaloniki Airport. The airport’s teams coordinated with emergency services and stakeholders to manage the situation effectively, ensuring passenger safety during the diversion.