Naija street dey buzz with shocking story of how one man nearly get sucked out of Ryanair plane window for mid-air. The flight bin dey go from Thessaloniki for Greece to Memmingen for Germany on Friday morning, but things turn wahala just 10 minutes after takeoff.
According to passengers, the plane bin descend sharply by 9,000 feet, and dem hear something like explosion. One passenger named Christina tell Radio Thessaloniki say: “We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams. I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door.” She add say the masks drop and there was strong smell.
The man wey suffer, a 61-year-old Serbian national, bin get head and shoulder hang outside the window. His wife hold him leg for about five minutes to stop am from being sucked out completely, according to Michalis Giannakos, president of Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees. The man dey treated for hospital with friction burns, and he dey in shock but conscious.
Another passenger, Sofia, tell Radio Thessaloniki: “When the oxygen masks dropped, we had no idea what was going to happen. We didn’t know whether we would make it back. We were sitting at the back of the aircraft, and we realised there had been some kind of explosion.” She add say the man wey injured bin dey bleed and lose consciousness several times because of lack of oxygen and shock.
Ryanair confirm say the flight return to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff because “a passenger window dislodged in flight.” The airline say the aircraft land normally and passengers return to terminal. One passenger request and receive medical assistance. Ryanair arrange replacement aircraft to carry passengers to Memmingen later.
Passengers claim say the window smash by pieces of the jet engine, but Ryanair no comment on that. The aircraft, an 18-year-old plane, dey operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. Thessaloniki airport operator Fraport Greece say the incident dey under investigation by Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority.
Chris Brady, a retired airline pilot, tell BBC say the incident “could have been worse” if the man no fasten seat belt. He advise passengers to keep seat belts fastened even when signs off, for safety against turbulence or such events.
In 2018, one passenger die for Southwest Airlines flight for US when debris from damaged engine cause window break and she partially suck out. This latest incident show say seat belt fit save life.
