Ryanair passenger almost sucked out of plane cabin after window shatters on Germany-bound flight: reports

A Ryanair passenger had to be restrained in his seat Friday to avoid being sucked out of a Germany-bound plane after a window shattered shortly after take-off, according to reports.

The traveler – only identified as a 61-year-old Serbian man – was pinned in his seat by fellow passengers as the cabin depressurized shortly after leaving Thessaloniki, Greece, at 5:55 a.m. local time, CNN Greece reported.

A piece of the plane’s engine broke off, which struck the window and caused it to shatter. 

A Ryanair plane window shattered moments after taking off from Thessaloniki, Greece. @RThessaloniki/X

Oxygen masks were released as the cabin of the Boeing 737-800 lost pressure.

One witness, known only as Christina, told local outlet Radio Thessaloniki that fellow travelers helped to restrain the man – who was still wearing his seat belt.

“His wife held him down for five minutes so he wouldn’t get out,” Michalis Giannakos, the president of Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees in Greece, told reporters, according to Enikos.

“With the help of many passengers, they managed to pull him into the cabin.”

The plane returned to Thessaloniki airport. DORA – stock.adobe.com

The plane, which was heading to Memmingen, just outside of Munich, returned to the Greek airport and passengers were placed on a replacement flight.

The man is being treated for friction burns, according to Giannakos.

“A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning (10 July) returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight,” A Ryanair spokesperson told The Post. 

“The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.”