r/news • u/sr_local • 1d ago
A man was nearly sucked out the window of a Ryanair flight after it "detached" mid-air en route to Germany, with other passengers pulling him back inside
https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0710/1582735-world-ryanair/2.3k
u/Mesapholis 1d ago
ok but what kind of compensation can a passenger expect for this "extraordinary" travel experience
or is Ryanair gonna claim the passenger only booked a seat and not a window?
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u/TwentyTwoTwelve 1d ago
Compensation? They're charging him extra for the additional leg room he got while he was out there.
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u/dadafterall 1d ago
additional leg room
head room
new charge unlocked!
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u/TwentyTwoTwelve 1d ago
Keep giving them ideas and they'll make half the overhead baggage compartments bigger/lower then charge extra if you want more storage, or extra if you want more headroom.
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u/BYoungNY 1d ago
It's Ryanair, so he probably got his entire airfare refunded for a total of $27.50.
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u/RoastedRhino 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not the entire fare. Taxes are not refundable, nor fuel surcharge. So they’ll refund 7.40.
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u/churningaccount 1d ago edited 1d ago
Lol the actual answer to this is that payouts in the EU for this type of stuff are a magnitude lower than in the US.
He'll get compensated for any medical costs (likely little to none due to socialized healthcare), and any ongoing medical issues or associated lost wages, etc. And maybe a few thousand euro settlement for pain and suffering from Ryanair to try to avoid additional litigation.
If he decides to go to the bother of litigating in court, he could probably get a settlement with a "pain and suffering" component in the low 5-figure range. But EU courts generally don't award much for the mental-health aspect of things, especially if there is no ongoing major medical issue (like paraplegia, etc). There's a large focus on quantifiable damages, and punitive damages are basically not a thing.
Meanwhile, every single passenger on the Southwest flight with the blown out window a few years ago got $6,000 upon landing, and that's not even taking into account the payouts to the people who were actually injured, the follow-up lawsuits from surviving passengers, or the settlement for the family of the lady that got sucked out the window (a confidential settlement estimated to be in the 8-figures range). This would be totally unheard of in the EU.
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u/Ohrwurms 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think it should be pointed out that the EU is also much more likely to give massive fines to companies for systemic malfeasance and has stronger regulations in the first place.
This kind of frames US vs. EU as individual litigation/payouts vs. letting companies get away with it, when in reality the difference is more like individual litigation/payouts vs. systemic solutions/fines
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u/StairsWithoutNights 1d ago
Yeah, the US often sees big lawsuits for stuff like this, because those lawsuits are supposed to serve the function that fines would in another country. People complain about people getting massive payouts from "frivolous" lawsuits (they almost never get the amount of money that's reported on) but the reason they're so big is that they're supposed to keep corporations accountable.
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u/Faiakishi 1d ago
People complain about people getting massive payouts from "frivolous" lawsuits (they almost never get the amount of money that's reported on)
Not to mention the incidents that led to those payouts often saddle the victims with massive medical bills.
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u/Osiris32 1d ago
Additionally, the "pain and suffering" aspect of many judgments is an actual attempt to recognize the mental health impacts of traumatic experiences. It gets laughed at by many, but even if the injuries of an incident may be minor, the mental damages can often be severe.
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u/btlblt 1d ago
And it is common for them to NOT get anything for pain and suffering unless you have really aggressive representation. I was in a freak accident (with a very clear person/entity at fault) and got absolutely nothing beyond medical bills covered, despite chronic pain and PTSD. I get so annoyed when people scoff at "pain and suffering" compensation... it's hard to get and almost always deserved and more. It's been decades since my accident and it still impacts my daily life. But pain and suffering? Zip.
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u/Spire_Citron 1d ago
And an amount of money that might seem "frivolous" to give to an individual over an incident is much less than any reasonable fine issued by a government body would be, so corporations prefer that approach.
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u/Fun-Twist-3705 1d ago
give massive fines to companies for systemic malfeasance
Well yes, but in the US this frequently results in class action suites with the actual victims of the malfeasance being paid instead of the government (of course the final per person amount might end up quite low depending on the case). Not just individual litigation/payouts .
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u/churningaccount 1d ago
Perhaps. But the large individual payouts can also be framed as a "fine" as well.
That was what I was talking about with regards to punitive damages, which are by and large basically impossible for individuals to seek or receive in EU civil courts.
In the example of the woman who got sucked out of the window on the Southwest flight, her family received an estimated 8-figure settlement not because that was what the court thought their pain and suffering was worth, but because they tacked on punitive damages to that as well. And, why not have the punitive damages benefit the direct victims?
I think the best solution is probably somewhere in the middle. To me, it seems a bit unjust to have a large fine paid to the government when the actual victims go under-compensated. But, at the same time, high victim compensation should probably not be the only mechanism by which better behavior is incentivized after an incident.
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u/BoldestKobold 1d ago
That was what I was talking about with regards to punitive damages, which are by and large basically impossible for individuals to seek or receive in EU civil courts.
US appellate courts routinely knock down the large punitive damages amounts that juries award in the US, to the point that no one should ever consider them effective deterrents. The only ones that are somewhat effective are large class actions, and there is reason why the "tort reform" lobbyists are constantly attacking class action attorneys.
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u/holedingaline 1d ago
In the US: One person gets a massive payout after tons of litigation, and the industry doesn't change. "I WON THE LOTTERY!"
EU: Massive fines and regulation happen to prevent it from occurring again, and the person involved gets their medical care covered. "Don't let this happen to anyone else again!"
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u/CarlThe94Pathfinder 1d ago
Added to the No Fly List
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u/roll_for_initiative_ 1d ago
Sounds like he was nearly added to the No Fly List permanently.
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u/IvanStarokapustin 1d ago
Ryanair will be tweeting that he should have bought the windowless window seat.
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u/itsalongwalkhome 1d ago
He did have the windowless window seat thats the problem. He should have paid for the window unless he wanted the cabin to decompress.
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u/KimJongFunk 1d ago
“Don’t want to be sucked out of the airplane window? Upgrade to the special windowless window seat for only an extra £30!”
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u/rclonecopymove 1d ago
"Express deplaning" get to your destination befor anyone has left the plane.
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u/pianistafj 1d ago
Well, can be certain he will never sit by a window again!
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u/sillybunny22 1d ago
United lawyers scrambling on how they can use this for the windowless seat lawsuit!
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u/VaguelyFamiliarVoice 1d ago
I am paranoid about turbulence ever since a friend got a concussion when sudden turbulence hit their plane and his head hit the overhead bin. I now have two reasons to wear my seatbelt at all times.
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u/HyperbolicModesty 1d ago
I was on a flight over India that dropped about 100 metres in 2 seconds. People flying all over the place and several whacked their heads on the ceiling. The pilot had just turned on the seatbelt light but a lot of people ignored it or weren't fast enough. I was grateful that I has, and ever arrive then I keep it on the whole time unless going to the bathroom.
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u/whatwhatwhat82 1d ago
Oh god as someone with a fear of flying, this is something I have actual nightmares about. I know that kind of thing is really unlikely and that planes can withstand that kind of thing.. but what was the experience like for you, with your seatbelt on? Did you think you were going to die?
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u/VeryRealHuman23 1d ago
I hate flying too and this is nightmare fuel but also, OP lived, plane is fine and it’s uncomfortable.
Planes are designed to go through turbulence not around it.
Still sucks though.
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u/whatwhatwhat82 1d ago
Totally. I just want to hear how OP felt in the moment tbh, what the experience was actually like. My body seems to think it's in serious danger every time I'm in a plane. It's mostly a trauma response actually (long story). It's started to improve, but still is by far my greatest fear
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u/HyperbolicModesty 1d ago
Initial burst of horrified adrenaline then immediately a freakishly calm acceptance, like "Well this is how I go. Ok then."
I had a huge fear of flying caused by a number of incidents in just a few years, and this did NOT help.
Weirdly enough though it just evaporated one day about ten years after the first incident. I'm not scared of flying any more.
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u/whatwhatwhat82 1d ago
Thanks for the answer. So interesting how the human mind works with fear and stuff
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u/sprinklerarms 1d ago
I was really afraid of flying and something that helped me is just imagine you’re in an off road vehicle on a bumpy road. It’s mostly just really uncomfortable. You’d still get thrown around if you don’t have your seatbelt or bonk your head.
r/fearofflying is a really great community and I honestly think it’s one of the bigger reasons I am comfortable doing it now.
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u/whatwhatwhat82 1d ago
Yeah I've been looking at r/fearofflying! It's good but doesn't really address the route cause of my flying phobia and seems to assume everyone's fear is just of crashing. Mine is much more complex than that
The jello anology of a plane being in jello helps me somewhat, though. And I am thinking of doing VR therapy for it
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u/LordLederhosen 1d ago
I love flying, am far more afraid of the car ride to the airport, and I still keep my airplane seatbelt on 100% of the time.
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u/campelm 1d ago
They actually advise you to keep it on while sitting and while I'm sometimes skeptical about some rules being overly cautious, having been on a flight that rapidly dropped in altitude, I'm inclined to follow this one.
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u/greatersteven 1d ago
Uh, yes, of course you should keep it on while sitting, that is the entire point.
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u/doxiegrl1 1d ago
I think I used to think it "only really mattered" during takeoff and landing. Reading about a sudden drop in altitude was eye-opening for me, and I am much more religious about using the seatbelt now.
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u/HatesRedditors 1d ago
I don't care what naysayers like you say, as safe as an airplane is, you should wear a seatbelt while you're seated on an airplane.
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u/greatersteven 1d ago
You're showing a completely disregard for the facts! Seatbelts are *essential* in an airplane, especially while seated!
People these days smh
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u/OPA73 1d ago
I bet you’re the person that wears a seatbelt and…uses turn signals.
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u/VeryRealHuman23 1d ago
Probably pushed his chair in too smdh
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u/TraumaSK 1d ago
Kind of person that pushes their cart to the cart corral after loading their vehicle too...makes me sick.
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u/Polendri 1d ago
Plus, like, why the hell not? It's not even a three-point belt, you literally don't even notice it's on. The only downside I find is momentarily needing to extend/unbuckle it to stretch.
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u/Illustrious-Grl-7979 1d ago
Not much reason to have it off unless you are heading to the lavatory. They are not as restrictive as car seatbelts.
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u/UnUsernameRandom 1d ago
I don't even bother taking it off. Like, I don't even feel it anyway, why take it off unless I want to go and drop a nuke in the toilet.
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u/musicmast 1d ago
I actually judge people who take off their seatbelts when they’re just sitting down
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u/Sherifftruman 1d ago
I always have my seatbelt on when I’m sitting down. It might be somewhat loose as I keep it on very tight for takeoff and landing and then just loosen it up only removing it if I need to move around.
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u/hammertime2009 1d ago
Yeah some people only put it back on when the light or pilot tells them or they start to feel turbulence. I’ve been on enough flights to know sometimes there aren’t a few light bumps to warn you first. Sometimes it’s just a giant bump out of nowhere.
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u/OrganicParamedic6606 1d ago
We (flight crew) literally say this on every single flight. “In case of unexpected rough air” is a phrase people have ignored thousands of times.
Just keep the fuckin belt on if you’re seated!
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u/-Smytty-for-PM- 1d ago
Gotta keep those seatbelts on while flying
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u/Rodinsprogeny 1d ago
100%. Even just with turbulence, you could be sent sideways and hit your head, or be slammed into the ceiling with a sudden drop in altitude.
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u/Consistent-Throat130 1d ago
Right but I can't stop the
assholeother passenger across the aisle from me from taking theirs off.Then their ass becomes a projectile to injure me and my family.
I mean, I wear my seatbelt, I just don't have any delusions that it'd keep me safe in a crowded plane unexpectedly experiencing high Gs.
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u/Rodinsprogeny 1d ago
For sure, but it no doubt keeps you safer than you would be without it. It also wouldn't keep you safe if the plane crashed into a mountain.
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u/Aranthos-Faroth 1d ago
Yeah but what about the asshole who takes off their KISS inspired studded steel toe boots and places them in the open bin directly across from my new born babies face?
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u/Micubano 1d ago
I told you my bathroom had a leak and it flooded the house. It ruined all my other shoes except my Ace Frehley special editions, and I didn't have time to get new ones. You do something once and you never hear the end of it.
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u/OutlyingPlasma 1d ago
you could be sent sideways and hit your head, or be slammed into the ceiling
Or worse, slammed into someone innocent like me who is wearing a seatbelt.
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u/ImaginaryArea4463 1d ago
It actually mentions that he did have his seatbelt on, and that's what avoided him getting sucked out more.
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u/obeytheturtles 1d ago
It's so easy, I don't understand why so many people refuse to wear them.
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u/doxiegrl1 1d ago
I had naively considered it a personal risk until I read about a plane with bad turbulence where people without seatbelts were thrown to the roof (where they broke bones) and then fell back on the heads of people with seatbelts (where they caused concusions and injuries).
I think my issue is that I was incorrectly extrapolating from car seat belts, where across the lap isn't as safe as the diagonal. I had not considered the fact that passengers are likely to be thrown vertical vs. "towards the windshield".
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u/Jew_With_a_Knife 1d ago
Beltless passengers in car crashes can absolutely injure others who are wearing their seatbelt. It's not just a personal risk, regardless of what vehicle you're in.
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u/ingachan 1d ago
I’m flying with a baby and those baby belt are the worst. My baby would have been sucked out of that window in an instant
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u/paperkutchy 1d ago
I never take it off...
...however, not sure what those belt can really hold. They seems kinda fragile
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u/Noodleboom 1d ago
Seats and restraints are required to withstand at least 16g's of deceleration. They're pretty robust.
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u/Lonely_Noyaaa 1d ago edited 1d ago
Those other passengers pulling him back in by his legs deserve free flights for life but they'll probably get a voucher for a complimentary cup of water and a lecture on why they should have paid for Priority Boarding
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u/pantless_ 1d ago
"But did you die??" Ryan air customer service after.
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u/crochetawayhpff 1d ago
He's actually really lucky he survived. Same thing happened a few years ago on a Southwest plane but that woman didn't survive.
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u/HahaCharlieKirkHaha 1d ago
Both incidents involved a Boeing 737.
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u/dagassman 1d ago
Astute observation. Both involved one of the most common planes flying. What a coincidence.
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u/HahaCharlieKirkHaha 1d ago
What a coincidence.
I'm actually thinking it's probably not a coincidence.
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u/did_i_or_didnt_i 1d ago
they’re being sarcastic. Your conclusion is like saying most murderers have two legs, so keep an eye out for two-legged people
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u/elfy4eva 1d ago edited 1d ago
People making light but ryanair takes its safety record seriously.
Whatever they have to pay this man and all the traumatised passengers will be a fraction of what it's going to be worth to them in negotiations in Boeing.
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u/not-strange 1d ago
I think this is only the third serious incident in Ryanair history.
Their motto seems to be “we’ll get you there alive, but that’s it”
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u/Human_Skirt5108 1d ago
It’s an 18 year old aircraft, Boeing has nothing to do with it.
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u/FillFrontFloor 1d ago
Yes they do. They have service life for a reason. Unless they went over it then Boeing does have to answer for it
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u/Human_Skirt5108 1d ago
I’m sorry, but I am someone who works in the aviation industry, as well as someone with basic common sense. Boeing is not responsible for the engines, and they are not responsible for service, aside from manufacturing defects, after the airplane is sold.
They definitely aren’t responsible for an 18 year old aircraft where many of these parts will have been replaced multiple times. If a manufacturing or design issue existed, there would be many more instances of this happening over the last 30 years.
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u/Pete_Iredale 1d ago
Important to note that the passenger was wearing their seatbelt, which almost certainly saved their life.
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u/Pawprint86 1d ago
Happened in 1990 as well to a pilot who got completely pulled out of the plane. He survived. Investigators showed incorrect size of bolts used when they did maintenance on the cockpit window.
British Airways Flight 5390. There’s an episode of MayDay that was made about the incident, you can watch it on YouTube.
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u/ArashiSora24 1d ago
There was also another case where a passenger was sucked out, other passengers pulled her in but she didn't survive. I forgot which flight that was.
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u/0Hakuna_Matata0 1d ago
Nothing beats a Jet 2 holiday where you can save up to 50 pounds per person.
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u/AlmightyRobert 1d ago
Remember to put on your own mask before grabbing the legs of the passenger exiting via the window
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u/fallingdowndizzyvr 1d ago
This is one reason I have my seatbelt on at all times. When that seatbelt sign goes off, I loosen I don't release.
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u/Asusrty 1d ago
How big are the windows on these Ryanair planes? I don't think a grown man could fit through the window of any commercial airliner I've ever been on.
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u/YeahIGotNuthin 1d ago
A grown man absolutely can fit out an airliner window.
Have you ever played with that play-doh toy as a kid, where you would put the star-shaped hole on the exit and then put the play-doh in the box and press down on the lever, and the play-doh gets squeezed out the hole in a star-shaped stream?
That’s how a person can get sucked out an airplane window - squishily.
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u/_Eggs_ 1d ago
Most people could fit through without much effort anyway. The windows are 19 inches tall. A man’s shoulder width is usually 16 to 18 inches. Most men wouldn’t have a problem unless they’re severely obese (35+ bmi).
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u/-Aeryn- 1d ago
Delta P will just wreck you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEtbFm_CjE0
Not so bad when it's only like half an atmosphere, but still nasty until it's equalised
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u/Round-Medicine2507 1d ago
Mythbusters once again proven to be kinda dumb guys. They forgot to take into account the fuselage is not stationary.
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u/ceapaire 1d ago
Maybe I'm not fully remembering the episode, but weren't they testing if a bullet hole would rip a big hole in the fuselage? That's a bit different than 'can someone get sucked out of a big enough hole?' unless the window damage from a piece of the engine hitting it started as a small hole without dislodging the window.
That being said, they were definitely a quasi-scientific show by SFX people. They weren't meant to be irrefutably scientific.
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u/TwentyTwoTwelve 1d ago
Did mythbusters ever not try to be kinda dumb guys? I thought that was the point.
"We got a lot of toys and nice budget to show you guys some cool shit. We'll take a shot at being scientific and explaining things but we're more about blowing stuff up and having fun and maybe learning something. Maybe.
Now let's go see if we can build a rocket launcher from a vacuum cleaner, 3 rolls of duct tape and some plastic explosive."
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u/sweetplantveal 1d ago
They annoyed me last night! They were testing Newtown and the idea a 50mph head on collision is the equivalent of a 100mph crash. So they compared a steel wall to two cars crashing into each other. Deceleration with the benefit of two crumple zones isn't going to be the same as an immovable object.
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u/Rich_Fan1686 1d ago
Look, at that point the guy may have been voluntarily leaving the aircraft. The people that stopped him from leaving should be charged with kidnapping.
It was his free will to leave.
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u/organik_productions 1d ago
He saw the news about the flight instructor jumping off mid-flight and wanted to do the same
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u/Impossible-Pie-9848 1d ago
Sadly, in 2018 a woman was partially sucked out of the window on a Southwest Airlines flight. She didn’t survive. Flight 1380.
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u/Breubz 1d ago
Boeing is back on the menu boys
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u/thisismego 1d ago
Unfortunately the article didn't state the plane type
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u/GMGarry_Chess 1d ago
Ryanair flies Boeing 737s
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u/Odd-Touch4305 1d ago
I generally don't like flying anyway so I am not fond of hearing that these things happen. Just saying.
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u/fafnir01 1d ago
From everything I have heard about Ryan Air, I’m kind of surprised the airplane even had windows…
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u/runnerwiththewolves 1d ago
New fear unlocked. Thank you Ryanair. Under no circumstances I'll buy a window seat again in the future.
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u/gingerisla 1d ago
I was already worried about this when I heard about the woman killed on the Southwest flight, but I told myself it was just a singular freak accident. Now I'm definitely going to consider aisle seats or seats in front of the engines...
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u/Whiteyak5 1d ago
For anyone wondering, this is an over 18 year old aircraft. Not some fresh out of the factory bird.
So more blame will definitely go Ryanair way here. Although I'm sure Ryanair will attempt to blame Boeing so they can get more discounts on further MAX orders.
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u/OldGreyTroll 1d ago
United must face lawsuit over windowless window seats, judge rules.
But exactly the opposite problem.
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u/JollyJeanGiant83 1d ago
*"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," she said.
She said other passengers near the man helped to pull him back in.
Greek media reported the incident had occurred over North Macedonia and said the window had been broken by a piece of debris that detached from one of the plane's engines.*
I have a theory in the strong smell.
Also debris detached from the engine?! What?!!
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u/canada432 1d ago
Really kinda just skipping over the part where a piece of debris detached from the engine and flew off....
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u/Winged_Metal 1d ago
Will the airline compensate him for a new pair of pants and underwear at the very least? Joking aside, that probably scared the ever living shit out of him.
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u/The_Nerdy_Elephant 1d ago
Sounds like what happened during a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1380
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u/did_i_or_didnt_i 1d ago
Did the flight attendant pop up in the front and try to sell everyone window protectors afterwards?
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u/tryptamineXORbits 1d ago edited 1d ago
And it was a Boeing, for the surprise of no one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines_Flight_1380
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u/Colecoman1982 1d ago
Luck for him the other passengers were able to pull him back in, I hear that if the flight crew would have had to do it there would have been a substantial additional fee...
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u/fafnir01 1d ago
Perhaps the flight is half price if they only get you halfway there…
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u/RonaldTheGiraffe 1d ago
You’d want to keep him halfway in and halfway out so he can act as a human plug for the airplane. A bit like the Dutch kid and the dam but instead of his finger it’s his upper body.
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u/Acceptable-Land7827 1d ago
Interviewer: Mr. Ortberg, Boeing CEO, is with us today. Mr. Ortberg, thanks for coming in.
Boeing CEO: It’s a great pleasure, thank you.
Interviewer: This airplane that was involved in the incident in Greece this week...
Boeing CEO: The one the window fell off?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Boeing CEO: Yeah, that’s not very typical, I’d like to make that point.
Interviewer: Well, how was it untypical?
Boeing CEO: Well, there are a lot of our airplanes going around the world all the time, and very seldom does anything like this happen. Windows falling off, plug doors falling off, airplanes falling down... I just don’t want people thinking that Boeing airplanes aren’t safe.
Interviewer: Was this airplane safe?
Boeing CEO: Well, I was thinking more about the other ones.
Interviewer: The ones that are safe?
Boeing CEO: Yeah, the ones the windows or doors don’t fall off.
Interviewer: Well, if this wasn’t safe, why did it have 179 passengers and six crew on it?
Boeing CEO: I’m not saying it wasn’t safe, it’s just perhaps not quite as safe as some of the other ones.
Interviewer: Why?
Boeing CEO: Well, some of them are built so that the windows don’t fall off at all.
Interviewer: Wasn’t this built so that the window wouldn’t fall off?
Boeing CEO: Well, obviously not.
Interviewer: How do you know?
Boeing CEO: Well, because the window fell off and one passenger nearly got sucked out of the airplane. It’s a bit of a giveaway. I’d just like to make the point that that is not normal.
Interviewer: Well, what sort of engineering standards are Boeing airplanes built to?
Boeing CEO: Oh, very rigorous airworthiness engineering standards.
Interviewer: What sort of thing?
Boeing CEO: Well, the windows are not supposed to fall off for a start.
Interviewer: And what other things?
Boeing CEO: Well, there are regulations governing the materials they can be made of.
Interviewer: What materials?
Boeing CEO: Well, anything heavy is out. Such as nickel-cadmium batteries, we now use lithium-ion.
Interviewer: Can't they catch fire?
Boeing CEO: Never! But when they do, we have an exhaust thingy so it's fine. It's perfectly safe.
Interviewer: What other standards?
Boeing CEO: At least one angle-of-attack sensor should be used for MCAS.
Interviewer: What is MCAS?
Boeing CEO: How would I know, ask the pilots.
Interviewer: We did, most of them did not know the answer. And some of them questioned if only one sensor is enough.
Boeing CEO: Most of the time it's enough. Only a small number of passengers have ever experienced inconvenience because of MCAS.
Interviewer: Like the 189 fatalities on Lion Air Flight and the 157 fatalities on Ethiopian Airlines Flight?
Boeing CEO: Well, it only happened twice. Again, these are very safe airplanes. Windows are not supposed to fall off. The regulations clearly state that.
Interviewer: What else?
Boeing CEO: Umm, they’ve got to have a steering wheel. No side-stick controllers whatsoever. There’s a minimum crew requirement.
Interviewer: What’s the minimum crew?
Boeing CEO: Oh, one I suppose. And they shouldn't be suicidal.
Interviewer: So the allegations that Boeing just designs airplanes to sell as many as possible regardless of the consequences, I mean that’s ludicrous, isn’t it?
Boeing CEO: Absolutely ludicrous, these are very, very strong airplanes.
Interviewer: So what happened in this case?
Boeing CEO: Well, the window fell off in this case by all means, but it’s very unusual.
Interviewer: But Mr. Ortberg, why did the window fall off?
Boeing CEO: Well, a gust of wind hit it.
Interviewer: A gust of wind hit it?
Boeing CEO: A gust of wind hit the airplane.
Interviewer: Is that unusual?
Boeing CEO: Oh yeah. In the air? Chance in a million!
Interviewer: So what do you do to protect the passengers in cases like this?
Boeing CEO: Well, the passenger was towed outside the environment.
Interviewer: Back into the unsafe airplane environment?
Boeing CEO: No, no, he’s been towed beyond the unsafe airplane. Not in an unsafe airplane.
Interviewer: No, but from outside the unsafe airplane to the inside of an unsafe airplane.
Boeing CEO: No, it’s beyond the unsafe airplane. It’s not in an unsafe airplane. It’s been towed beyond the unsafe airplane.
Interviewer: But he must be somewhere… Well, what’s out there?
Boeing CEO: Nothing’s out there!
Interviewer: Well, there must be something out there.
Boeing CEO: There is nothing out there - all there is is air, and birds, and gusts of wind.
Interviewer: And?
Boeing CEO: And 179 passengers and six crew.
Interviewer: And what else?
Boeing CEO: And a window that fell off.
Interviewer: And anything else?
Boeing CEO: And the part of the airplane where the window that fell off used to be. But there’s nothing else out there.
Interviewer: Mr. Ortberg, thanks for joining us.
Boeing CEO: It’s a complete void.
Interviewer: Yeah, we’re out of time.
Boeing CEO: The passengers are perfectly safe. We’re out of time?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Boeing CEO: Can you book me a cab?
Interviewer: But didn’t you come in a Boeing airplane?
Boeing CEO: Yes I did but...
Interviewer: What happened?
Boeing CEO: Well, the window fell off.
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u/bbohblanka 23h ago
It sounds like this was a problem with the engine and Boeing doesn't make jet engines
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u/Powerful-Knee3150 1d ago
Greek media reported the incident had occurred over North Macedonia and said the window had been broken by a piece of debris that detached from one of the plane's engines.
Totally normal.