Passenger 'Sucked Out' After Plane Window Shattered On Germany-Bound Flight

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 15:50 IST

A 61-year-old man seated next to window bore the brunt of decompression. The powerful rush of escaping air pulled the upper half of his body out of the shattered window frame.

A Germany-bound Ryanair flight was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing in Greece on Friday morning after an engine malfunction hurled debris into the fuselage, shattering a cabin window and partially “sucking" a passenger out of the aircraft.

Ryanair flight FR1879 had just departed Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia" en route to Memmingen, Germany, when it suffered a catastrophic engine failure while cruising over neighbouring North Macedonia.

According to aviation authorities, a fragment from the malfunctioning engine detached and struck the side of the aircraft, smashing through a passenger window. The sudden loss of cabin pressure triggered an immediate decompression event, deploying oxygen masks and sparking widespread panic among the passengers.

A Terrifying Ordeal In Mid-Air

A 61-year-old Serbian national seated next to the window bore the brunt of the decompression. The powerful rush of escaping air pulled the upper half of his body out of the shattered window frame.

Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN), confirmed the terrifying details of the incident. “The passenger’s upper body was pulled out into the air, and he was desperately restrained by his wife," Giannakos stated.

The flight crew immediately declared a full emergency and executed a rapid descent, turning the aircraft back toward Thessaloniki.

Emergency Response and Injuries

The plane landed safely in Greece, where emergency vehicles and medical teams were waiting on the tarmac.

The 61-year-old man, who sustained severe injuries to his shoulders and upper body during the ordeal, was rushed to a local hospital. Four other passengers were also evaluated and treated for minor injuries and shock. The remaining passengers were returned to the terminal.

Ryanair Issues Statement

In a statement released following the incident, Ryanair confirmed the diversion but downplayed the severity of the engine failure, attributing the emergency primarily to the window failure.

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

The airline added that a replacement aircraft was quickly arranged to transport the remaining passengers to Memmingen to minimise further delays.

An investigation into the root cause of the engine malfunction and the subsequent fuselage damage is currently underway by aviation safety authorities.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

News world Passenger 'Sucked Out' After Plane Window Shattered On Germany-Bound Flight

Read More