THESSALONIKI, Greece — A passenger was injured after being partially sucked through a broken airplane window shortly after a Ryanair flight took off from Greece for Germany on Friday.
The flight was traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, when a passenger window became dislodged in flight, causing the cabin to rapidly lose pressure.
Witnesses said the 61-year-old man was seated next to the damaged window when his head and shoulders were pulled through the opening. Nearby passengers quickly grabbed him and pulled him back inside the aircraft.
The passenger was reportedly wearing his seatbelt at the time, which may have prevented him from being pulled farther through the opening.
Oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin as the pilots began an emergency descent and returned the Boeing 737-800 to Thessaloniki.
Ryanair said the aircraft landed normally and passengers were returned to the terminal. The injured passenger received medical assistance before being taken to a hospital.
A hospital official said the man was treated for injuries to his neck and shoulders, along with friction burns. His injuries were not reported to be life-threatening.
A replacement aircraft was arranged to transport the remaining passengers to Germany.
Some preliminary reports indicated that a piece of debris may have struck the window, but authorities have not officially confirmed what caused the window to break.
Aviation safety officials are investigating the incident.
