A Ryanair aircraft flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff after a passenger window blew out, injuring one passenger. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
According to the airline, the Boeing 737 was forced to return to the departure airport after a window failed during flight. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
The most seriously injured was a Serbian citizen. He was taken to AHEPA University Hospital in Thessaloniki. According to the Serbian consulate, his life is not in danger, and doctors are assessing the nature of his injuries.
Serbian media, citing eyewitnesses, reported that during decompression, the passenger's head and shoulders were partially pulled out through the broken window. Other passengers managed to hold him and pull him back inside.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the incident involved a Boeing 737 Next Generation (737 NG), a model produced before the 737 MAX family.
According to Reuters, citing two airport sources, the emergency may have been caused by an engine fragment that detached shortly after takeoff, pierced the window, and caused cabin decompression.
A video allegedly showing the damaged engine also appeared on social media. Preliminary reports indicate an uncontained engine failure: fan blades disintegrated, and debris damaged the aircraft's fuselage.
Flightradar24 data showed that shortly after departure for Memmingen, the airliner turned around and returned to Thessaloniki. Additionally, according to Reuters, the same aircraft had also returned to Thessaloniki airport shortly after takeoff the previous evening during a flight to Sarajevo. The reasons for that incident have not been disclosed.
Boeing said it is assisting with the investigation. Ryanair reported that the aircraft landed safely and passengers were taken to the airport terminal.
All Boeing 737 NG aircraft in Ryanair's fleet are equipped with CFM56 engines manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between American General Electric and French Safran.