Passenger Almost Cut Out of Window on Ryanair-Operated Flight

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:17:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A man in his 60s was left hanging from a cabin window during a Ryanair-owned flight from Thessaloniki, prompting an emergency return and investigation.

During a Ryanair‑owned flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, a 60‑year‑old passenger was reportedly left hanging head‑first from a window after a sudden decompression. Passengers on the Malta Air flight pulled the man back into the cabin before the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki. Ryanair confirmed the incident and stated one passenger received medical assistance. Aviation authorities in Greece and Malta are investigating the cause, which may be linked to engine damage.

Passenger Almost Cut Out of Window on Ryanair-Operated Flight

A 60‑year‑old passenger was reportedly left hanging head‑first from a window during a Ryanair‑owned flight, before being pulled back in by fellow passengers and a staff member.

The incident took place on a Malta Air flight, a subsidiary of Ryanair, that departed Thessaloniki, Greece, for Memmingen, Germany. Witnesses described a loud bang followed by the window breaking and oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling shortly after take‑off. The passenger’s head and shoulders were outside the cabin for several minutes, though his seat belt kept him from being fully sucked out.

Ryanair released a statement saying the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki “shortly after take‑off when a passenger window dislodged inflight.” The airline noted the plane landed normally and that one passenger received medical assistance on the ground. A replacement plane was arranged later to transport passengers to their destination.

Passengers reported the window was smashed by fragments, possibly from a damaged engine, prompting an immediate sense of decompression. The Irish Aviation Authority confirmed it was aware of the event and offered assistance to the Greek and Maltese aviation safety bodies investigating the cause.

This incident echoes a 2018 event where a Southwest Airlines flight in the United States suffered a similar window failure, resulting in a passenger being partially sucked out after engine debris broke the pane.

Echoing safety concerns, the incident highlights the importance of rigorous maintenance and rapid response protocols to ensure passenger safety during inadvertent decompression events.