A Ryanair flight bound for Germany returned safely to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff on Friday after a cabin window shattered during flight, causing rapid decompression and seriously injuring a Serbian passenger, according to Greek media reports and eyewitnesses.
The aircraft, which had departed from Thessaloniki Airport for Memmingen, turned back after the incident occurred minutes after takeoff.
Eyewitnesses told local media that a loud explosion was heard before one of the aircraft’s windows broke, triggering cabin decompression and the deployment of oxygen masks.
Passengers said a 61-year-old Serbian man seated next to the damaged window was partially pulled toward the opening by the force of the escaping air. They said his seat belt, together with the efforts of his wife and nearby passengers, prevented him from being pulled further toward the opening.
According to Greek media outlet Protothema, the incident may have been caused by debris from the aircraft’s engine that struck the window, although authorities have not officially confirmed the cause.
The aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki, where emergency services transported the injured passenger to hospital.
Greek media reported that he remained conscious but suffered severe shock, burns and injuries caused by the powerful airflow during the decompression.
A pregnant passenger was also taken to hospital as a precaution. Doctors later confirmed that both she and her unborn child were unharmed, and she was discharged.
Michalis Giannakos, president of the Greek Federation of Public Hospital Employees, described the incident as a tragedy narrowly avoided.
“His wife held him by the legs for several minutes, while other passengers helped pull him back into the cabin,” Giannakos said.
One passenger described scenes of panic inside the aircraft.
“There was a loud bang, like a tyre bursting. People started screaming as the plane rapidly lost pressure. The oxygen masks dropped immediately. We thought someone had opened an emergency exit. Luckily, the passenger was wearing his seat belt, and that saved his life,” the witness said.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.