Scenes of terror unfolded during a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport to Munich, Germany. Mid-flight, a loud bang was heard, followed by the shattering of a cabin window — triggering panic among passengers.
Passenger Partially Ejected, Held by Wife
In an unprecedented incident, the head and upper body of a passenger seated next to the broken window were pulled outside the aircraft. His wife held him by the legs for five minutes to prevent him from being fully ejected. Other passengers joined her in a desperate effort to pull him back inside.
The 61-year-old man — a Serbian national — sustained friction burns from contact with the fuselage and suffered neck injuries after striking the aircraft structure. The cabin also experienced rapid decompression, causing oxygen masks to drop automatically.
Emergency Return to Thessaloniki
The pilot immediately altered course and made an emergency landing back at Macedonia Airport. All passengers remained on board following the landing while authorities assessed the situation.
The injured man was rushed to AHEPA University Hospital in Thessaloniki for urgent evaluation, including a CT scan to rule out fractures. According to officials, he is conscious but in shock and undergoing medical examinations.
Union Statement and Additional Medical Attention
Michalis Giannakos, President of the Greek Airline Pilots’ Association (POEDIN), described the event as a near-tragedy: “A passenger’s body was partially sucked out after the window broke — his wife held him by the legs for five minutes until others helped pull him back in.”
A pregnant woman was also taken to Hippokration Hospital as a precaution. She is reported to be in good health and has since been discharged.