The eighteen-year-old aircraft, flying as Ryanair flight FR1879 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, suffered a rapid decompression shortly after take-off. Greek media and airport sources indicated that part of the aircraft's right engine failed, with debris reportedly striking and shattering a passenger window. The 61-year-old Serbian national seated beside the damaged window was partially pulled outside the aircraft before fellow passengers managed to drag him back into the cabin. He sustained neck and shoulder injuries, as well as friction burns, and was taken to hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening, according to the Serbian Consulate in Thessaloniki.
Passengers described scenes of panic inside the cabin. One traveller told local media that a loud bang, "like a tyre bursting", was heard after departure before oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling. Another passenger initially believed an emergency exit had opened before realising the aircraft had suffered a rapid decompression. Witnesses said the injured Serbian passenger repeatedly lost consciousness while his wife and those seated nearby held onto him until the aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki. Aviation experts have noted that the fact the passenger was wearing his seatbelt likely prevented an even more serious outcome.
On Thursday evening, the day before the incident, the same aircraft, bound for Sarajevo, was forced to return the Thessaloniki shortly after take-off. The flight was subsequently cancelled, with the aircraft’s next service being to Memmingen on Friday morning. Ryanair has not disclosed the reason for that diversion, and there is currently no indication that it is connected to Friday's decompression incident.
The aircraft remains grounded in Thessaloniki while investigators examine the damaged engine and fuselage. The findings of the Macedonian-led investigation are expected to determine whether an uncontained engine failure caused debris to penetrate the cabin window, triggering the decompression. The incident is drawing comparisons with the 2018 Southwest Airlines accident involving another Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, in which an engine failure also resulted in a shattered window and cabin decompression.
I'm sure I'll be watching a documentary about this from Discovery in not so distant future
ReplyDeleteMayday!
DeleteThe passenger was incredibly lucky to be wearing his seatbelt.
ReplyDeleteThey are there for a reason...
DeleteAlso not getting hit by a piece of engine.
DeleteHe was not "lucky", he was responsible
DeleteIndeed, and also lucky.
Deletethis could have ended in a catastrophe. Wishing the passenger a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThe investigation will be interesting. Engine debris striking the fuselage is an exceptionally rare chain of events.
ReplyDeleteThe official statement makes it sound like a routine technical issue.
DeleteWhy was the plane going to Sarajevo diverted the night before?
ReplyDeleteAn unruly Australian passenger being aggressive towards passengers and cabin crew,
DeleteHe was arrested upon landing in SKG.
thanks
DeleteAs fate would have it, this could have happened to them mid-flight and that outcome could have been very different. They dodged a bullet thanks to that Australian passenger.
Delete18 year old plane for an LCC... not good
ReplyDeletescary video
ReplyDeleteThe Ryanair statement that they gave after this incident is shameful.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the psychological impact this will have on the passenger and everyone else onboard.
ReplyDeleteThe important thing is that the aircraft landed safely and investigators find the root cause.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how connected to ex-Yu this turned out to be :D Passenger from Serbia, investigation to be done by Macedonia and the plane flew to Sarajevo as its previous flight.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteHave they paused humiliating passengers online for the time being as part of their social media image?
ReplyDeleteThey have gone quiet. But on the day of the incident they made fun of a passenger who complained that the window seat he paid for had no window.
DeleteDon't worry. They will be back to making fun of people in around 24 hours. They didn't even bother to apologize to the passengers on this flight.
DeleteThe way an airline communicates after an emergency says a lot about its attitude toward passengers. So Ryanair gloss over an incident that could have ended in tragedy is on brand for them.
DeleteEveryone complains about Ryanair's handling of things but the vast majority of people continue to fly them anyway. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but the public obviously doesn't care much about Ryanair's attitude towards them.
DeleteAmazing that the passenger survived.
ReplyDeleteAn incident of this magnitude deserves more than a brief corporate statement.
ReplyDeleteAgree. This is one of those situations where empathy should come before public relations.
Delete