A Ryanair flight experienced moments of panic this Friday when a window fell off in mid-flight and a passenger was left partially outside the plane, with his head and shoulders exposed to the outside.

The Boeing 737 had taken off from Thessaloniki, Greece, bound for Memmingen, Germany, when the incident occurred, resulting in rapid depressurization of the cabin and deployment of oxygen masks.

The passenger, a 61-year-old Serbian citizen who was sitting next to the window, was pushed into the opening. His wife held him by the legs and other travelers collaborated to keep him inside the plane until they managed to place him back in his seat, according to testimonies collected by European media.

The passenger was taken to a hospital

The pilot declared an emergency and returned to Thessaloniki airport, where the plane landed without further problems. The passenger was taken to a hospital with friction burns and other injuries, although his life would not be in danger.

Ryanair confirmed the flight returned shortly after take-off after a window broke off and one person required medical attention. The other passengers were later sent to Germany on another plane.

The causes of the incident remain under investigation. Preliminary information indicates that a fragment from one of the engines could have hit the window and caused it to detach, but this hypothesis has not yet been officially confirmed.

Videos released after landing showed damage to the window, oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling and the interior of the aircraft covered with debris.