An aviation nightmare unfolded aboard a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Munich when part of the aircraft’s engine detached mid-air, causing a window to shatter. As a result, a 61-year-old passenger was partially sucked out of the plane—his upper body thrust outside the fuselage—while the aircraft was still climbing.
Chaos and Quick Thinking Averted Tragedy
According to eyewitnesses and the man’s wife—who was seated beside him—the incident began with a loud bang and violent shaking, followed by the sudden shattering of the window next to their seats. The pressure differential created an intense suction force, pulling the man halfway out of the aircraft.
His wife, along with two other passengers, immediately grabbed hold of him and pulled with all their strength to keep him inside. ‘We were three people pulling him back into the plane,’ she told Live News. ‘Everyone was crying, there was total panic. My husband fainted three times.’
She added that he had been wearing his seatbelt at the time—a detail that likely saved his life. His shirt was ripped off, oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling, and passengers were left gasping in terror. ‘We held on to him while half his body was outside the window. Then a man from the adjacent seat came over and helped us hold his hand.’
Emergency Landing and Medical Response
The pilot followed emergency protocol and requested an immediate unscheduled landing at Thessaloniki’s Macedonia International Airport. Cabin crew worked urgently to manage the crisis amid widespread fear and disorientation.
The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked without further incident. The injured man and those who assisted him were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Passenger Recalls the Moment
Another passenger described the terrifying sequence: ‘We heard a huge jolt during takeoff, then an extremely loud noise. Oxygen masks dropped, and we smelled burning—we initially thought there had been an explosion. Then we saw the man’s torso outside the window, and people rushed to pull him back in.’
Investigators have launched an inquiry into the cause of the engine component failure and subsequent window rupture. Ryanair has confirmed it is cooperating fully with aviation authorities.