Passenger Nearly Ejected from Ryanair Flight After Window Breaks

A Ryanair flight en route from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a serious incident shortly after takeoff on Friday morning. A passenger sitting next to a window was partially ejected from the aircraft when the window became dislodged midair.

Reports indicate that the unidentified man was pulled head-first out of the plane, with only his shoulders remaining inside. Fellow passengers quickly intervened, managing to hold him back and prevent further ejection. Greek public broadcaster ERT provided details of the incident, noting the immediate chaos that ensued.

The flight, designated FR1879, took off at 5:57 AM local time and returned to Thessaloniki approximately one hour and 13 minutes later. The aircraft, an 18-year-old Boeing 737-8AS, was flying at around 16,000 feet when the incident occurred.

Upon landing, emergency medical assistance was provided to the injured passenger, who was reported to be in shock and suffering from other injuries. Other passengers were later transferred to a different flight for their journey to Memmingen, as confirmed by Ryanair.

One passenger recounted the experience to Radio Thessaloniki, describing a loud noise followed by the deployment of oxygen masks. The injured individual was said to have been bleeding and initially lost consciousness.

Ryanair acknowledged the incident in a statement, confirming that the aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki and that medical assistance was rendered on the ground. A replacement aircraft was arranged to continue the passengers' journey.

The Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority (HARSIA) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the window failure. Fraport Greece, the operator of Thessaloniki Airport, stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation and has activated emergency response protocols to ensure safety.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).