Pilot says one factor saved man almost sucked out of Ryanair plane

One simple detail could have saved the life of a Ryanair passenger almost sucked through the window of a plane – and it’s one easy rule everyone should follow, according to a pilot.

A Serbian man was nearly dragged head-first through a cabin window when it “dislodged” shortly after a flight departed Thessaloniki, Greece, on July 10. His wife was reportedly desperately clutching onto his ankles to stop him being dragged through the window.

American Airlines pilot Captain Steve Scheibner examined footage that emerged in the wake of the terrifying ordeal and offered his analysis. In the clip, the camera focuses on the aircraft’s blown-out window.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Captain Steeeve, the pilot said: “Now you can see that the oxygen mask came down. That was the seat that the gentleman was seated in.

“He had his seat belt fastened, and that saved his life. Friends, how many times have you heard me say, ‘Keep your seat belt fastened, regardless of whether the sign is on or off?’

“You never know when something’s going to happen, and it might just save your life.”

Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft, which was heading to Memmingen, Germany, had been airborne for approximately 10 minutes before descending around 9,000ft, with passengers describing hearing “some kind of explosion”. Ryanair said in a statement: “The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.”

The 61-year-old was reportedly hanging out of the window up to his shoulders, before fellow passengers hauled him back inside. A Greek official confirmed he was treated for what the BBC described as “friction burns”.

Ryanair stated that “a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen”.

Speaking to Radio Thessaloniki, a passenger named Christina shared her experience: “We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams… for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door.

“The masks dropped and there was a strong smell. The head and shoulders of one passenger were outside the window. Fortunately, he hadn’t taken off his seat belt.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority advises passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened throughout their journey, stating it is non-negotiable during taxiing, take-off, landing and turbulence.

It comes after Brits were warned that seemingly innocuous souvenirs could lead to issues at the airport and even arrest. Asad Mirza, director at Cargo Force, explained that people can be “caught out by customs regulations”.

“Many travellers assume that if an item is legal to buy abroad, it’s automatically legal to bring back into the UK.

“Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Every year, people are caught out by customs regulations because they simply weren’t aware of the rules. What seems like a harmless souvenir can quickly become an expensive mistake.”