A Ryanair passenger was saved by his seatbelt after an aircraft window shattered midflight, resulting in the man being partially sucked out of the plane, according to eyewitnesses.
Greek news stations have reported that the Ryanair Boeing 737-800 had left Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) on July 10, 2026, for Memmingen Airport (FMM) in Germany when the incident occurred.
Speaking to Radio Thessaloniki 94.5, a female passenger who claimed to have been on the same flight claimed there was a loud noise “like a tire bursting”.
She became aware that a window had shattered and a male passenger was being held by people next to him as his “whole head, neck and shoulders were outside the window”.
The woman told the radio station that, fortunately, the man “hadn’t taken off his seat belt” and there were doctors onboard who were able to assist him.
BREAKING: Ryanair passenger reportedly saved from being sucked out the cabin after window fails during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 10, 2026
According to local media Ryanair flight FR1879, a Boeing 737-8AS, returned safely to Greece on Friday after part of a damaged engine… pic.twitter.com/YPgRodjPFp
According to the witness account, the oxygen masks inside the cabin were successfully deployed, and the flight team diverted the aircraft back to Thessaloniki.
An ERT News article noted that it had received information suggesting that the window broke when it was struck by a piece of the engine.
The Ryanair Boeing 737-800 was at around 16,000 feet when its altitude suddenly dropped, and the aircraft began to turn round.
Ryanair confirmed that its aircraft landed normally at Thessaloniki International Airport and the passengers returned to the terminal.
“One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki,” Ryanair said. “A replacement aircraft was made available to transport passengers to Memmingen, which departed from Thessaloniki at 9:35 local time this morning.”