Passenger partially sucked through Ryanair window during mid-flight emergency
A 61-year-old Serbian man was partially sucked out of a passenger window on a Ryanair-operated flight after the acrylic pane dislodged mid-air on Friday, July 10, 2026. The incident occurred on a Boeing 737-800 operated by the airline’s subsidiary, Malta Air, while the aircraft was traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.
According to the passenger’s wife, Svetlana Grković, her husband was pulled headfirst into the plane’s slipstream for approximately two minutes. Grković stated she reacted immediately by grabbing her husband’s legs to prevent him from being fully ejected from the cabin. With the assistance of other passengers, including one man and one woman, she was eventually able to pull him back inside.
Decompression and cabin emergency
Witnesses aboard the flight described a loud noise, which some compared to a bursting tire, followed by immediate decompression. Oxygen masks were deployed from the cabin ceiling as the aircraft experienced a sudden change in pressure.
Passengers reported that the man, who had kept his seatbelt fastened, was left hanging out of the window up to his chest. One witness told Radio Thessaloniki that the decompression was “extreme,” making it difficult for passengers to breathe. The injured man reportedly lost consciousness three times during the ordeal.
Tracking data indicated the flight reached an altitude of 16,000 feet before descending to return to Thessaloniki airport. While some reports suggested the incident was linked to an engine failure that caused parts to strike the window, Ryanair has officially stated only that a passenger window “dislodged in flight.”
Medical status and recovery
The 61-year-old passenger remains hospitalized in Greece. According to his wife, he is suffering from shock and serious injuries, including friction burns sustained from the wind outside the aircraft. She noted that he is currently unable to communicate and has limited memory of the event.
Michalis Giannakos, president of the Greek healthcare union Poedin, confirmed that the passenger was treated for friction burns. While initial reports indicated four people were taken to the hospital—three for precautionary reasons—the 61-year-old is the only individual identified as having sustained significant injuries.
International investigation underway
Because the incident occurred over North Macedonian airspace, aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation. The Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority is leading the probe, with assistance from multiple international bodies.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has appointed a technical advisor to the investigation and is maintaining contact with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing. As the aircraft is a U.S.-built Boeing 737-800, these entities are cooperating to determine the cause of the window failure.
Ryanair confirmed that the aircraft landed normally in Thessaloniki and that a replacement plane was arranged to transport the remaining passengers to Memmingen.
Flight incident summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight Date | Friday, July 10, 2026 |
| Route | Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany |
| Aircraft Type | Boeing 737-800 (operated by Malta Air) |
| Primary Investigation Lead | North Macedonia aviation authorities |
Reflecting on the event, Grković stated that her primary thought while holding her husband’s legs was, “If we die, we die together.” She expressed a desire to personally thank the fellow passengers who assisted her in saving her husband’s life.
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