A window on a Ryanair plane broke, and a passenger was almost thrown out.

On Friday, July 10, 2026, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, made an emergency landing back at Thessaloniki Airport due to a terrifying incident during the flight. The cause was a rapid drop in cabin air pressure inside the aircraft after a passenger window exploded shortly after flight FR1879 commenced.

The aircraft, which took off from Macedonia International Airport in Thessaloniki at approximately 5:55 AM local time, reached an altitude of about 20,000 feet when passengers heard a loud noise. According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred when a piece of debris detached from one of the aircraft's engines and struck a passenger window. Subsequently, the cabin pressure rapidly decreased, causing oxygen masks to deploy automatically. This led to significant unrest and panic among the passengers on board.

As the window shattered, a 61-year-old Serbian tourist seated nearby faced an extremely terrifying situation, being pulled partially out of the aircraft. According to eyewitnesses, his head and shoulder area were pulled out through the broken window. His wife immediately reacted, firmly grabbing his legs. With the help of other passengers, he was then pulled back into the cabin. Fortunately, he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the incident, which prevented him from being completely ejected from the aircraft.

As a result of this terrifying incident, the tourist sustained neck injuries and abrasions to his body. He has been admitted to AHEPA University General Hospital in Thessaloniki for further medical examinations and a CT scan, and his health condition is currently reported as stable. Fortunately, no other passengers or crew members on board sustained serious injuries.

Issuing a statement regarding the incident, Ryanair confirmed that the aircraft was diverted back due to a passenger window detaching during the flight. After the safe landing, the company arranged for passengers to be transported to their destination on an alternative aircraft. Greek aviation authorities and international investigation teams have already launched a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Such accidents are considered extremely rare, as passenger windows in commercial aircraft are typically constructed with multiple layers and designed to withstand high pressure. The quick decisions of the cabin crew and the bravery shown by the passengers prevented a major catastrophe.