A passenger was injured after a plane window was shattered during a flight from Greece to Germany on Friday, forcing the aircraft to return to Thessaloniki.
The flight had departed Thessaloniki International Airport for Memmingen, around 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Munich, when passengers heard a loud bang inside the cabin shortly after takeoff. The aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki, where the injured passenger received medical attention.
Loud bang and shattered plane window spark panic on flight from Greece
Eyewitnesses told Greece’s public broadcaster ERT that the incident occurred only minutes into the flight. Passengers described hearing an abrupt, explosive sound before the window next to a man in his early 60s was badly damaged.
Oxygen masks dropped from the overhead panels, triggering panic among those on board. According to witnesses, the force of the incident nearly pulled the passenger out of the flight, prompting nearby travelers to hold him in place before removing him. Subsequent reports suggested that the inner layer of the window may have remained intact. The full extent of the damage has not yet been officially confirmed.
NEW: Ryanair passenger, 61, nearly sucked out of Greece–Germany flight after damaged engine debris shatters cabin window; suffers friction burns pic.twitter.com/L8cpxF1Ad9
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) July 10, 2026
Engine part reportedly struck window
The aircraft bound for Memmingen reportedly suffered a serious engine malfunction during the flight. A piece of engine debris is believed to have broken away and struck the outer section of the window, damaging its exterior layer. Reports indicated that the impact did not create a hole in the fuselage. However, it was powerful enough to injure the passenger seated beside the window.
The airline has not confirmed that engine debris caused the damage. Investigators are expected to determine what failed and how the window was struck.
Pilot safely returns aircraft to Thessaloniki
Passengers said the pilot remained calm throughout the emergency, reassured those on board, and turned the aircraft back toward Thessaloniki. Emergency crews were waiting as the plane landed safely at the airport.
The injured passenger, reportedly a Serbian national in his early 60s, was taken to a hospital in Thessaloniki. Greek media reported that he suffered shock and a neck injury, although his condition was not considered life-threatening. The remaining passengers exited the aircraft safely and returned to the terminal.
New flight departs from Greece after plane window incident
Ryanair confirmed that the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki after a passenger window became dislodged during the flight. The company said the plane landed normally and that one passenger received medical assistance on the ground.
A replacement aircraft later departed for Memmingen with the passengers. The airline did not provide further details about the reported engine malfunction or explain what caused the window damage, but a technical investigation is expected to establish the exact cause of the incident.