Wife of Passenger Nearly Sucked Out of Plane Due to ‘Dislodged Window’ Speaks Out: ‘If We Die, We Die Together’

A recent flight incident involving a Ryanair aircraft has left a passenger with serious injuries after a window “dislodged” mid-air. The flight, which was en route from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, experienced the alarming event on the morning of 10 July.

According to Svetlana Grković, the wife of the injured passenger Ljubiša Karović, the couple was airborne for approximately 30 minutes when disaster struck. In an interview, she described how half of her husband’s body was suddenly thrust out of the plane due to the window giving way. Grković recounted, “It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window where my husband was sitting. Luckily, he was strapped in.”

Panic ensued in the cabin as Grković sprang into action, grabbing her husband’s legs to prevent him from being sucked out. “I immediately reacted and grabbed his legs. I thought: ‘If we die, we die together.’ It was horrible,” she recalled, adding that another mother on board clung to her child so tightly that she almost suffocated him in her effort to keep them both secure.

The airline’s official statement confirmed that the aircraft made an emergency return to Thessaloniki shortly after the incident. Passengers were safely escorted back to the terminal, where emergency services were on standby for any injuries sustained during the flight. “One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki,” Ryanair noted.

Grković reported that her husband had sustained burns and was in shock, with little recollection of the events. “It’s important to me that he’s alive,” she stated in a follow-up interview, highlighting the terrifying nature of their ordeal. Following their landing, an ambulance was ready to transport Karović to hospital for treatment.

Witness accounts from other passengers further described the chaotic atmosphere following the window’s dislodgement. A female passenger, who preferred to remain unnamed, recounted the moment when most passengers were asleep and were startled awake by a noise reminiscent of a “bursting tire.” Upon realising there was a decompression in the cabin, screams erupted. “For a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door,” she shared.

The disturbing incident triggered oxygen masks to drop from the ceilings, and video footage circulating on social media captured the alarming aftermath. Passengers can be seen amidst the chaos, with the cabin littered with oxygen masks, while the damaged window was left revealed, jagged shards of glass framing the void.

In a follow-up to the situation, Ryanair communicated that a replacement aircraft was arranged to take the remaining passengers to their destination. The new flight departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 AM local time on 10 July.

The incident has also garnered attention from aviation authorities. A representative from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) remarked that they were aware of the occurrence and affirmed that an independent investigation will be conducted by the relevant authorities for aviation safety. The IAA pledged to assist with the inquiry in line with established international aviation safety protocols.

As investigations continue, the harrowing experience endured by Grković and Karović serves as a sobering reminder of the potential risks associated with air travel. The incident underlines the importance of stringent safety measures and the need for passenger awareness during flights.