A 61-year-old Serbian passenger, Ljubisa Karović, was treated for neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns after a window dislodged shortly after a Ryanair flight left Thessaloniki.
Aviation consultant Richard Levy said a piece of the engine apparently broke off, hit the window and triggered depressurization, creating the suction that nearly pulled Karović out.
Karović’s wife said three passengers pulled him back inside after he lost consciousness three times; a suitcase placed against the opening was also sucked out as oxygen masks dropped.
Ryanair said the aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki, one passenger received medical help on the ground, and a replacement flight departed for Memmingen at 9:53 a.m. local time.
Experts called rapid decompressions extremely rare at major airlines and urged passengers to keep seat belts fastened and follow crew instructions during in-flight emergencies.