A Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany was forced to return to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off after a cabin window became dislodged in flight, triggering a rapid cabin depressurisation. Passengers on board said a man seated next to the affected window was nearly sucked out of the aircraft before fellow travellers pulled him back inside.
The incident occurred on Friday morning aboard Ryanair flight FR1879, operated by Malta Air, which had departed Thessaloniki for Memmingen, near Munich. According to flight tracking data, the Boeing 737 climbed to around 16,000 feet before turning back and landing safely at its departure airport.
Passengers described hearing a loud bang moments after take-off, followed by the deployment of oxygen masks as the aircraft rapidly lost cabin pressure. Several witnesses told Greek media that a male passenger was pulled towards the opening by the force of the airflow after the window became dislodged.
The aircraft that partially sucked a 61-year-old Serbian man out of the window is a Boeing 737-800 (Next Generation), not a B737 MAX. It's an 18-year-old airframe, MSN 36569, built in Renton and delivered to Ryanair in March 2008, registered as EI-DYF. It later entered service… pic.twitter.com/lIO2ByXp3a
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) July 10, 2026
Local reports identified the man as a 61-year-old Serbian national. Some passengers claimed he remained hanging partially outside the aircraft for several minutes before fellow travellers managed to pull him back into the cabin. Other reports said his wife prevented him from being pulled further out by holding onto his legs. Witnesses also said the fact that he was wearing his seat belt may have prevented a more serious outcome.
“We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams. For a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door,” one passenger, identified only as Christina, told Radio Thessaloniki.
She added that oxygen masks fell from the ceiling and that there was a strong smell inside the cabin following the incident.
Greek media reported that the passenger was taken to hospital suffering from shock and friction burns caused by exposure to the freezing airflow outside the aircraft. Authorities have not officially confirmed the extent of his injuries.
Some passengers suggested that fragments from one of the aircraft’s engines may have struck the window, causing it to dislodge. However, Ryanair has not confirmed the cause of the incident, and this remains part of the ongoing investigation.
BREAKING: Ryanair passenger reportedly saved from being sucked out the cabin after window fails during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 10, 2026
According to local media Ryanair flight FR1879, a Boeing 737-8AS, returned safely to Greece on Friday after part of a damaged engine… pic.twitter.com/YPgRodjPFp
In a statement, Ryanair said: “A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff when a passenger window dislodged inflight.”
“The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.”
The airline added that a replacement aircraft was arranged, allowing passengers to continue their journey to Memmingen later that morning.
The Irish Aviation Authority confirmed it was aware of the incident involving the Malta Air-operated aircraft and said it would assist the relevant Greek and Maltese aviation authorities if requested as part of the safety investigation.
The aircraft involved is reported to be an 18-year-old Boeing 737. Investigators are expected to examine what caused the window to become dislodged and whether any mechanical failure contributed to the incident.
Although cabin depressurisation events are rare, they are treated as serious aviation emergencies. Modern aircraft are designed to allow pilots to descend rapidly to a safe altitude while maintaining control of the aircraft, and passengers are instructed to use oxygen masks until the cabin is safely repressurised or the aircraft lands.
