Incident Aboard Ryanair Flight
A passenger on a Ryanair flight reportedly faced a terrifying ordeal when nearly being ejected through a cabin window during mid-flight. The incident involved a man, believed to be in his 60s and a Serbian national, who was left precariously hanging head-first out of the window up to his shoulders for several moments. Fellow passengers on the flight managed to pull him back to safety.
Flight Details and Airline Response
The incident occurred shortly after the plane took off from Thessaloniki, Greece, en route to Memmingen, Germany. Ryanair confirmed that a window dislodged mid-air, necessitating the aircraft's return to Thessaloniki. The airline stated that the plane landed without further incident, and all passengers were safely returned to the terminal. One passenger required medical attention upon landing.
Ryanair arranged for a replacement aircraft to complete the journey to Memmingen later that day, ensuring that passengers were not further inconvenienced.
Passenger Accounts and Investigation
Witnesses aboard the flight described hearing a loud bang followed by the dislodging of the window and the subsequent deployment of oxygen masks. It is believed that the window may have been compromised by debris from the aircraft's engine, though Ryanair has not confirmed this detail.
Christina, a passenger on the flight, told Radio Thessaloniki, "We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams... for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door." She also noted a strong smell and confirmed the man’s safety due to his seatbelt being fastened.
Aircraft and Safety Measures
The aircraft involved, reportedly an 18-year-old Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair's subsidiary Malta Air, returned to Thessaloniki following the incident. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) acknowledged the event and expressed its commitment to assist the ongoing investigation led by Greek and Maltese aviation authorities.
The incident draws parallels to a 2018 event on a Southwest Airlines flight in the United States, where a passenger tragically died after being partially sucked out of a window due to engine debris.
Source: Original Article
