Ryanair plane suffers broken window over Greece, passenger nearly ejected

A Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737‑800 operating from Thessaloniki to Malta experienced a severe window failure shortly after take‑off on a flight at about 16,000 ft. A fragment from the right‑hand engine is believed to have struck the passenger cabin window, causing it to crack and separate. The impact exposed the 60‑year‑old Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović to the cabin pressure differential; his wife and two other passengers held him until the crew could bring the aircraft back to Thessaloniki. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers were evacuated without injuries.

Ryanair confirmed the incident, said the fleet complies with European safety regulations, and noted that neither the U.S. FAA nor the EU EASA have required operational changes. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been appointed to lead an independent investigation, and Ryanair is cooperating fully. Aviation experts explained that rapid depressurisation can create a strong suction effect, but seat‑belt use and the small size of passenger windows limit the likelihood of a passenger being pulled fully out of the cabin.