Thessaloniki, Greece: A harrowing incident occurred mid-air shortly after takeoff. A side window of a Ryanair flight, en route from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, suddenly flew open. The force of the strong airflow nearly sucked a passenger out of the aircraft; however, quick action by fellow passengers saved his life. Following the incident, the plane was turned around and returned to Thessaloniki Airport.
What happened mid-air?
The incident took place while the aircraft was flying over North Macedonian airspace.
Eyewitnesses reported that most passengers were asleep at the time. Suddenly, there was a loud noise resembling an explosion. Many initially thought a tire had burst or an emergency exit had opened.
Immediately afterward, cabin air pressure began to drop rapidly, and oxygen masks automatically deployed. Panic spread throughout the cabin.
Amidst this chaos, a passenger was seen with his head and shoulders hanging outside the window; the powerful wind was dragging him out. Fortunately, his seatbelt was fastened. Passengers seated nearby immediately grabbed him and pulled him back inside, narrowly averting a major tragedy.
The injured passenger is a Serbian national. He sustained injuries due to the friction caused by the airflow. After the plane landed, he was rushed to the hospital. Doctors have stated that he is currently stable and out of danger.
Assessing the situation, the pilot decided not to take further risks. For safety reasons, the aircraft was flown back to Thessaloniki Airport, where it landed normally. Crew members then escorted all passengers to the terminal.
To minimize inconvenience to the passengers, Ryanair subsequently arranged an alternative flight.
A Ryanair spokesperson stated, “Shortly after takeoff, a window detached. Passenger safety is our top priority; therefore, the aircraft was turned back.” Initial reports from the Greek media suggest that a piece of metal detached from one of the aircraft’s engines and struck the window, causing it to open. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding this from the airline or the authorities yet.
An investigation into the incident is underway to determine whether it was caused by a mechanical failure or some other factor.
Such incidents in mid-air are extremely rare. A major disaster was averted thanks to passengers keeping their seatbelts fastened and the quick thinking of fellow passengers. I wish the injured passenger a speedy recovery.
