A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany turned into a scare on Friday morning when one of the aircraft's windows came off during the flight. The sudden loss of cabin pressure that followed pulled a 61 year old passenger's head, neck and shoulders outside through the gap. Passengers sitting nearby reacted quickly, grabbing hold of him and pulling him back inside the cabin, saving his life.
Where and how the incident unfolded
The flight was travelling from the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki to Memmingen in Germany when the window detached. The aircraft was being operated by Malta Air, an affiliate of Ryanair, Europe's largest budget carrier. In its statement, Ryanair said a passenger window separated from the aircraft shortly after takeoff. Prioritising safety, the airline decided to turn the plane around and return it to Thessaloniki immediately.
Passenger left with neck and shoulder injuries
A Greek hospital official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the injured passenger suffered injuries to the neck and shoulder. Friction from the rushing air also left him with burn like wounds on his body. Once the aircraft landed safely, the injured passenger asked for medical help on the ground and was subsequently treated.
Panic and screaming inside the cabin
Christina, a passenger on board the flight, recalled the moment in a conversation with Thessaloniki Radio, saying most passengers were either asleep or resting with their eyes closed when a loud bang suddenly rang out.
"Most of us were asleep or had our eyes closed. Then there was a very loud noise. It sounded like a tyre bursting, but much louder. We immediately understood that the cabin had lost pressure, because the plane began descending rapidly."
According to Christina, oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling right after the bang and the aircraft began losing altitude quickly, spreading panic through the cabin. She said, "There was screaming and chaos everywhere. The passenger sitting next to me had his entire head, neck and shoulders pulled out through the window. The passengers around him grabbed him immediately and pulled him back inside."
Safe landing and onward arrangements
Ryanair said the aircraft landed safely at Thessaloniki airport a short while later. All passengers were taken back to the terminal after landing. The airline later arranged a replacement aircraft to fly the remaining passengers on to Germany so their journey was not delayed further.
Right engine trouble under investigation by multiple agencies
The US National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, said it had been notified of the incident. Preliminary information indicates the aircraft had to turn back because of a technical problem in its right engine along with the drop in cabin pressure. The NTSB said it stands ready to assist the investigation, though the lead inquiry will be carried out by the Republic of North Macedonia's Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800 model, which can carry a maximum of 189 passengers.
