A passenger aboard a Ryanair flight nearly lost his seat when a fractured window caused a sudden pressurization in midair on Friday morning.
The incident transpired on Flight 1879, bound for Memmingen, Germany, shortly after departure from Thessaloniki, Greece, when engine fragment damage compromised a cabin window soon after takeoff, according to Greek media reports.
A fellow passenger, speaking to Radio Thessaloniki, recounted that most travelers were asleep when the aircraft was jolted by a loud sound resembling a tire burst, instantly signaling decompression.
“Oxygen masks fell, a sharp odor filled the cabin, and the head and shoulders of a passenger protruded through the breach. Fortunately, he remained buckled in his seat,” she added.
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A passenger sustained injury on a Ryanair flight departing Thessaloniki, Greece, after a window ruptured, leading to partial ejection due to decompression. (Reuters/Alexandros Avramidis/File Photo)
Reuters noted that two industry sources confirmed the passenger was partially expelled from the aircraft through the damaged window.
Greek media outlets reported that fellow passengers, including the victim’s spouse, restrained him in his seat during the emergency, prompting the aircraft to return to Thessaloniki after takeoff.
Authorities identified the passenger as a 61‑year‑old Serbian tourist, who received treatment for friction burns and shock but was otherwise stable.
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Ryanair confirmed that the affected passenger sought and received medical assistance following the aircraft’s return to Thessaloniki. (Reuters/Fabrizio Bensch)
Ryanair issued a statement indicating that the flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff when a passenger window became dislodged mid‑flight.
The aircraft touched down without further incident, and passengers disembarked to the terminal. One traveler received on‑site medical aid in Thessaloniki, and Ryanair arranged a substitute aircraft to transport the group to Memmingen.
The statement refrained from detailing the specific circumstances surrounding the incident or the extent of any injuries.
A comparable accident unfolded in 2018 on a Southwest Airlines flight, when engine debris compromised a window and partially ejected a passenger; the individual later succumbed to injuries.
In January 2024, an Alaska Airlines aircraft experienced a cabin‑pressure loss shortly after takeoff due to a failed door plug; several minor injuries were reported, though all occupants survived.
One passenger observed that the victim’s seatbelt prevented complete ejection from the aircraft. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Reuters contributed to this report.