A Ryanair passenger flight traveling from Thessaloniki in Greece to Memmingen in Germany was forced to make an emergency landing after a cabin window dislodged midair on Friday, BBC News and Reuters confirmed. The harrowing incident left a 61-year-old passenger, identified as Ljubisa Karovic, severely injured after being partially pulled out of the aircraft. His wife, Svetlana Maksimovic, told BBC Serbia that her husband`s head and right shoulder were outside the plane for nearly two minutes before fellow passengers managed to pull him back into the cabin. The budget airline confirmed that the aircraft landed normally and emergency medical assistance was provided on the ground.
Flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft had been airborne for approximately 10 minutes when the cabin window failed, causing the plane to abruptly drop 9,000 feet. Passengers reported hearing what sounded like an explosion followed by immediate decompression and widespread panic inside the cabin. Maksimovic recounted holding onto her husband`s legs desperately while two other passengers rushed to assist her in pulling him back into his seat. Witnesses stated that the fact Karovic kept his seatbelt fastened during the flight ultimately saved his life by preventing him from being entirely ejected from the plane.
A technical advisor appointed by the family suggested that the incident may have been triggered by a failure in the right engine of the aircraft. The advisor believes that flying debris from the engine struck and shattered the adjacent cabin window, though official aviation investigators have not yet confirmed this claim. What remains unclear is the exact mechanical breakdown that led to the window detachment, as comprehensive maintenance logs are currently being reviewed by civil aviation authorities. The injured passenger suffered significant facial lacerations and burns, and according to his wife, remains in extreme psychological shock following the midair ordeal.
In an official corporate statement, Ryanair confirmed that the Friday morning flight returned to the terminal shortly after takeoff due to a dislodged passenger window. The Irish carrier emphasized that all safety protocols were followed and the remaining passengers were later accommodated on alternative flights. Fellow passengers described scenes of terror inside the aircraft with many believing an emergency door had been accidentally opened during the ascent. Representatives from the local aviation terminal confirmed that regular safety checks had been performed on the vehicle prior to departure, prompting further examination into structural vulnerabilities.
