ATHENS: A passenger narrowly escaped being pulled from an aircraft after a window reportedly detached during a flight from Greece to Germany, prompting an emergency response and an immediate return to the departure airport.
According to reports, the incident occurred while the aircraft was en route, when one of its windows suddenly came loose from its frame.
The affected passenger, a 61-year-old man, was reportedly seated near the window and was nearly pulled out of the aircraft as the cabin rapidly depressurized.
Eyewitnesses said the man’s head and shoulders were forced outside the aircraft before his wife and several fellow passengers managed to hold onto him and pull him back into the cabin.
Following the incident, the aircraft’s oxygen masks were automatically deployed as part of standard emergency procedures.
The flight crew initiated an emergency descent, lowering the aircraft by approximately 9,000 feet to reach a safer altitude where passengers could breathe more easily without supplemental cabin pressure.
The aircraft then returned safely to the airport, where emergency services were waiting to assist passengers and crew.
The injured passenger was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, according to the reports.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the window became detached during the flight and whether a mechanical failure, maintenance issue, or another factor contributed to the incident.
Aviation experts note that such occurrences are extremely rare, as commercial aircraft windows are designed with multiple layers and undergo rigorous safety inspections and certification before entering service.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance records, the damaged window assembly, and flight data as part of the inquiry.
The airline has not yet released detailed findings, and officials say the investigation remains ongoing. The results are expected to help determine the cause of the incident and whether additional safety measures are required to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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