A Ryanair flight to southern Germany had to return the Greek city of Thessaloniki on Friday after a passenger window broke shortly after takeoff.

Axar.az reports, citing Deutsche Welle, that the pressure difference pulled the head and shoulders of the man sitting by the window outside the aircraft, and a desperate rescue effort ensued.

Travelers heard a loud bang during Friday's flight to Memmingen Airport in Bavaria after which the window pane smashed, and oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.

The passenger sitting by the window had kept his seat belt fastened, which helped prevent him from being pulled farther out of the aircraft and eased the rescue, a witness told Radio Thessaloniki.

"His head and shoulders were sticking out of the broken window," one witness told Greek broadcaster ERT.

Some passengers began screaming while others, including the man's wife, struggled to hold and successfully drag him to safety.

Greek media identified the man as a Serbian tourist. He was taken to hospital in Thessaloniki with abrasions but was otherwise in good condition, according to Greek authorities.

Ryanair said the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki shortly after departure because "a passenger window became dislodged during the flight." The airline said the plane landed normally and that a passenger had received medical treatment.