A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to return to its departure airport on Friday after a passenger window shattered shortly after takeoff.

The pressure difference caused the head and shoulders of the man seated by the window to be partially pulled outside the aircraft. His fastened seatbelt prevented him from being fully ejected.

Witnesses reported a loud bang followed by oxygen masks dropping. Fellow passengers, including the man's wife, managed to pull him back inside.

The injured passenger, identified by Greek media as a Serbian tourist, was taken to a hospital in Thessaloniki with abrasions but in good condition.

Ryanair confirmed the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki and landed normally. Greek media suggested a piece of engine debris struck the window, though the airline did not confirm the cause.

The same Boeing 737-800 had also returned to Thessaloniki the previous evening during a flight to Sarajevo for unknown reasons. An investigation has been launched.

Source: www.dw.com