Passenger partially sucked through window after Ryanair flight suffers mid-air emergency

Published 11 July 2026 · europe

Part of an engine may have broken off and struck the window, causing cabin decompression A Ryanair flight bound for Germany was forced to make

Part of an engine may have broken off and struck the window, causing cabin decompression A Ryanair flight bound for Germany was forced to make an emergency landing in Greece on Friday after a cabin window became dislodged, partially sucking a passenger out of the aircraft during the terrifying mid-air incident.The Boeing 737 NG, travelling from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, safely returned to Thessaloniki Airport, where the injured passenger was taken to hospital. Authorities have launched an investigation into what caused the window to fail.Footages from inside the cabin appeared to show a shattered window and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling following the decompression.Another video circulating on social media from the incident showed an uncontained engine failure, with fan blades missing from one of the engines.

Such failures occur when internal engine components, including fan blades, break apart and escape the engine casing, potentially sending debris into the aircraft.The injured passenger, a Serbian national, was rushed to AHEPA University General Hospital in Thessaloniki. The Serbian consulate said the man did not suffer life-threatening injuries, although doctors were still assessing the extent of his injuries.According to Serbian media, another passenger told Radio Thessaloniki that the man's head and shoulders were pulled outside the aircraft before fellow passengers managed to drag him back inside.Following the incident, the airline issued a statement confirming that the aircraft turned back after "a passenger window dislodged inflight."It added that "the aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal."The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 Next Generation, the model preceding the current 737 MAX family.

The agency also confirmed that a window had broken during the flight and said it stood ready to assist the investigation.Boeing said it was supporting the inquiry, which it said was being led by North Macedonia, over whose airspace the incident occurred."We remain in contact with and continue to support our customer, Ryanair," the

manufacturer said.Preliminary reports from Greek media suggested that part of an engine broke away shortly after take-off, smashing the window and causing the cabin to decompress. Two airport sources familiar with the incident relayed the same account, according to Reuters.One Greek airport source said the aircraft remains grounded in Thessaloniki while investigators examine the damage.