Ryanair says its planes are safe despite passenger being nearly sucked out of window

by | Jul 31, 2026 | Travel

Ryanair says its planes are safe despite passenger being nearly sucked out of window

Ryanair has issued statements affirming the safety of its operations following a mid-flight incident in which a passenger was partially ejected from an aircraft. The incident occurred on a Boeing 737 operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, during a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany earlier this month. A passenger was pulled back into the cabin by his wife and two other travelers after an engine failure resulted in damage to the window.

Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s group chief financial officer, emphasized that the airline’s crew handled the emergency response effectively and that all passengers and crew safely exited the aircraft upon return. He noted that the company’s customer care team has maintained contact with the affected family. Sorahan stated it remains premature to discuss compensation while investigations are ongoing.

The US National Transportation Safety Board announced it would lead an independent investigation into the incident. Sorahan expressed Ryanair’s full cooperation with the probe and stated that neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has mandated operational changes to the airline’s fleet. He characterized Boeing 737 aircraft as highly maintained and operated by well-trained crews, noting the model’s extensive global service history.

Sorahan also addressed separate operational concerns regarding the EU’s new digital entry-exit system, which has significantly increased processing times at major European airports. He criticized the implementation and called for flexibility during peak travel periods. Separately, Ryanair reported that after-tax profits fell 34 percent to €538 million in the three months ending in June, primarily due to doubled jet fuel costs linked to Middle East tensions. The airline carried 61.3 million passengers during the period, representing 6 percent growth, though average fares declined by the same percentage.

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