Passenger Nearly Sucked From Ryanair Jet After Window Shatters Mid-Flight
Mid-air emergency on Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany leaves passenger with severe injuries and raises questions about cabin crew response.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
Ljubisa Karović faced a terrifying ordeal, nearly pulled from a Ryanair plane window after it shattered mid-flight, prompting an emergency landing and a federal investigation.
The incident unfolded as the Ryanair flight, operated by its subsidiary Malta Air, traveled from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Germany.
Ljubisa Karović, seated in window seat 11F, sustained burns and bruises across his right arm, extending to his armpit and chest, as the cabin depressurized.
His wife, Svetlana Grković, positioned three rows behind him in 14C, acted swiftly, grabbing his legs to prevent him from being fully ejected from the aircraft.
She held on for five minutes until other passengers rushed to assist; oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin.
She held on for five minutes until other passengers rushed to assist.
One passenger attempted to block the gaping window first with a bag, then with a suitcase, as the jet continued its flight for approximately 30 minutes with the damage.
Travelers on board reported hearing 'some kind of explosion' before the window gave way; passengers expressed profound fear as the aircraft flew.
Ultimately, the 18-year-old Boeing 737 made an emergency landing back at its departure airport, Thessaloniki.
Beyond the immediate crisis, Michael O'Leary, the Ryanair boss, stated an initial investigation suggests foreign object damage to the engine on takeoff at Thessaloniki, though this remains unconfirmed.
He also noted the engine on the plane had undergone a full service and overhaul within the past two years, a standard procedure for aircraft maintenance.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Svetlana Karović stated no cabin crew members offered assistance during the harrowing event, asserting passengers provided all necessary help.
Ryanair, however, defends its staff, asserting cabin crew performed a 'phenomenal job' during the emergency.
Vasilis Tsiaras stated neither Ljubisa nor Svetlana Karović have received any contact or support from Ryanair since the incident.
Karović was discharged from the hospital less than 100 hours before an interview and now requires a neck brace for at least six weeks.
He described severe injuries, including a swollen and numb head, temporary paralysis on the right side of his body, and partial damage to his right ear and eye.
A full recovery is unlikely and now experiences panic attacks whenever he hears an airplane, disrupting his work and family life.
Karović stated a full recovery is unlikely and now experiences panic attacks whenever he hears an airplane, disrupting his work and family life.
This strategic shift follows the US National Transportation Safety Board initiating an investigation into the incident, examining the circumstances surrounding the window's failure, a critical step in aviation safety.
This investigation follows a history of incidents involving aircraft structural integrity, including the Aloha Airlines Flight 243 in 1988, where a large section of the fuselage ripped open mid-flight, demanding constant vigilance in aviation.
For airlines like Ryanair, a low-cost carrier operating a vast fleet, such incidents place immense pressure on public perception and regulatory scrutiny, impacting future bookings and operational protocols.
A pregnant woman on board was taken to the hospital following the landing and is reported to be in good health; a replacement aircraft was arranged for the remaining passengers to continue their journey.
The long-term implications for passenger confidence in air travel, particularly concerning older aircraft and maintenance standards, will unfold as the NTSB investigation progresses.