A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to make an emergency return this morning, shortly after take-off after a cabin window became dislodged in flight.
Passengers described hearing a loud bang as the window blew out before the aircraft rapidly descended around 9,000 feet. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling as the cabin suffered rapid decompression, sparking panic on board.
One passenger, a 61-year-old Serbian man, was reportedly left hanging head-first out of the window as far as his shoulders. Fellow passengers, including his wife, managed to pull him back inside while his seatbelt prevented him from being completely ejected. It is thought the seatbelt saved him. He was later treated in hospital for friction burns and shock.
Ryanair confirmed the aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki and said a replacement plane later flew passengers to Germany. The airline said one passenger received medical treatment after landing.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation by the Greek aviation authorities. Some passengers claimed debris from the aircraft engine may have caused the window damage, although this has not been confirmed.
Aviation experts say the incident highlights why passengers should always keep their seatbelts fastened, even when the seatbelt sign is switched off.
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