Ryanair Passenger Pulled Back Inside After Window Blows Out Mid-Flight
7 verified5 unconfirmed
On July 10, a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, suffered a window dislodgement shortly after takeoff, causing a 61-year-old passenger to be partially sucked out of the aircraft. The man was pulled back inside by his wife and two other passengers. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air, returned to Thessaloniki about an hour after departure after experiencing an engine issue and rapid decompression. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident, with Greece participating. Ryanair stated that its crew performed well and all passengers walked off the plane, and that it is cooperating with investigators. The airline also said no regulatory agency has required operational changes to its fleet. Financial results released by the airline on the same day showed a 34% drop in quarterly profits, partly attributed to higher jet fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict.
What’s verified
The incident occurred on July 10, 2026, during a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.
The flight was operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
A window dislodged after an engine issue caused rapid decompression, and a 61-year-old passenger was partially sucked out.
The passenger was pulled back inside by his wife and two other passengers.
The aircraft returned to Thessaloniki about one hour after takeoff.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with Greek authorities participating.
Ryanair stated that its crew handled the situation well and all passengers left the aircraft without serious injury.
Not yet confirmed
The passenger’s name (Ljubisa Karović) and his wife’s name (Svetlana Grković) were reported by only one source.
Specific injuries (neck and shoulder injuries, friction burns) were reported by only one source; it is not clear whether the passenger remained hospitalized.
Altitude and flight path details were provided by only one source.
Ryanair’s financial results and criticism of the EU’s new digital entry-exit system (EES) were reported by only one source.
The exact cause of the engine failure remains unknown.
Key figures
Neil Sorahan (Ryanair Group Chief Financial Officer)
Ljubisa Karović (passenger)
Svetlana Grković (wife of passenger)
Shye Gilad (former airline captain, Georgetown University instructor)
Sources: The Guardian, abcnews.com
