A Ryanair flight departing from Thessaloniki, Greece, at 5:55 on 10/7, bound for Memmingen, Germany, experienced a harrowing incident. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 6,000 meters, passengers heard a loud bang as a window detached.

"Most of us were asleep, then there was a sound, like a tire burst", another female passenger recounted to Thessaloniki radio. She added that passengers immediately noticed a drop in cabin pressure, followed by screams. Initially, they thought someone had opened an emergency exit.

Oxygen masks deployed, and a strong odor filled the cabin. The head and shoulders of a passenger were pulled outside the window. Fortunately, he had not unfastened his seatbelt, and those sitting nearby pulled him back in.

According to sources, the wife of the 61-year-old Serbian man grabbed his legs and held on for about five minutes before other passengers rushed to help. They eventually managed to pull him completely back inside.

AFP quoted local officials, who said the passenger was taken to a hospital with friction burns but was in stable condition.

Greek media reported the incident occurred over North Macedonia. Debris from an engine detached, striking the window and causing the glass to shatter.

The airplane window with shattered glass. Photo: Newsweek

In a subsequent statement, Ryanair confirmed the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff due to a window detaching during flight. The airline added, "The aircraft landed normally, and passengers returned to the terminal".

The Irish airline stated a replacement aircraft was arranged to transport the remaining passengers to Memmingen.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, LBC)