October 10, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki returned due to a broken window: passenger injured


Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen was forced to return to Macedonia airport after damage to the passenger window in flight. One passenger received injury and was taken to the AKHEPA hospital.

The incident occurred on the morning of July 10 on board a Ryanair plane that took off from Thessaloniki to Germany. A number of Greek publications indicate the destination as “Munich”, but the airline’s official statement refers to the flight Θεσσαλονίκη – Μέμινγκεν. This is an important correction: Memmingen is often used by low-cost airlines as an airport for travel to Bavaria and the Munich region, but it is not Munich Airport itself.

According to Newsitduring the flight, passengers heard a loud noise, after which the plane window was damaged. Oxygen masks worked on board, and the crew decided to return to Thessaloniki.

The passenger at the window was injured

According to passengers, a person sitting next to the damaged window was injured. After landing, he was picked up by an ΕΚΑΒ ambulance and taken to the hospital AKHEPA. According to first reports, he was diagnosed with a neck injury.

Some media outlets and eyewitnesses describe the moment as extremely dangerous: after a loud bang, panic began in the cabin; passengers tried to help the man sitting by the window. Videos published in Greek media and social networks show oxygen masks and a damaged area near the porthole.

It is important here not to speed up the drama faster than an airplane. Reports of a passenger being “almost pulled out” have appeared in a number of publications, including foreign tabloids, but Ryanair officially says a passenger window was damaged/detached and one passenger required medical attention. The investigation must now find out what exactly happened to the window structure and the cabin.

What Ryanair said

Ryanair confirmed that the flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on the morning of July 10 returned to Thessaloniki shortly after departure due to an incident with the passenger window. The plane landed normally and the passengers returned to the terminal.

“A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when the passenger window became detached mid-flight. The plane landed normally and the passengers returned to the terminal.”

The airline also said one passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. To avoid a long delay, Ryanair diverted another plane to take passengers to Memmingen. The flight departed Thessaloniki at 09:35 local time, the company said.

Engine fragment version

According to information Newsitthe version that the detached engine fragment could hit the window and cause damage. This version still requires official confirmation from aviation services.

German media also reported that the flight was being returned after the window was damaged. Welt writes that the plane returned to Thessaloniki after the window incident, and one passenger was taken to hospital.

If the version of the engine fragment is confirmed, the investigation will concern not only the window, but also the technical condition of the engine, the possible destruction of the part, the trajectory of the fragment and the actions of the crew after the incident. In aviation, a “small fragment” can sometimes make a big day for investigators, engineers and passengers who suddenly remember all the prayers at once.

Return to Macedonia

After the incident, the crew commander changed course and returned the plane to Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. The landing went smoothly.

On the ground, airport services and doctors arrived at the plane. Passengers were taken to the terminal, and the damaged aircraft must undergo technical inspection. The investigation must determine under what circumstances the window damage occurred and whether it was due to an external impact, a technical defect, or another factor.

Against the backdrop of recent flight delays in Greece, this incident adds another unpleasant episode to the summer aviation season. Athens News previously wrote that delays at Greek airports have again become a problem for passengers and airlines: Eurocontrol recorded an increase in delays and pointed to the strain on the network. Greek airports again experiencing delays.





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