Man Recalls ‘Chaos’ of Being Almost Sucked Out of Plane: ‘I Am Lucky’

A 61-year-old passenger had a terrifying experience on a Ryanair flight when he was partially sucked out of a window mid-flight, prompting an emergency landing. The incident occurred on July 10, during a journey from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany. Ljubisa Karović recounted his ordeal in an interview with The Guardian, detailing the moment chaos unfolded.

Karović described how he had been asleep in his window seat when he was jolted awake by the sound of a window shattering. In the ensuing panic, he found himself headfirst outside the aircraft, dislodged after a sudden loss of cabin pressure. “It’s the noise before the chaos, the noise that is always there when I close my eyes to sleep,” he said, reflecting on the traumatic experience.

According to a statement from Ryanair, the Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after the incident. Passenger accounts suggest that Karović was almost completely outside the aircraft as it cruised at over 15,000 feet and speeds exceeding 600 km/h. His lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, explained that Karović lost consciousness immediately after being thrown from the plane. “He looked at death, that other world, and came back,” Tsiaras remarked.

Svetlana Grković, Karović’s wife, shared her perspective of the incident with a Serbian media outlet. She expressed relief that her husband was securely strapped into his seat at the time. “It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window where my husband was sitting,” she said. Grković praised the actions of a fellow passenger who intervened, using a bag and later a suitcase to block the gaping window, assisting in getting Karović back inside.

Witnesses indicated that the ordeal spanned approximately two minutes, during which Karović was half inside and half outside the aircraft. He later recalled fainting twice and suffering from facial swelling due to the intense rush of air. Following the emergency landing, Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, suggested that damage to the aircraft may have resulted from a foreign object striking the engine during takeoff from Thessaloniki.

In a statement regarding the incident, Ryanair noted that cabin crew are required to prioritise their safety by securing seat belts and wearing oxygen masks in cases of sudden decompression. The airline claimed that once the aircraft descended to a safe altitude, crew members did assist Karović, relocating him next to his wife and arranging medical assistance.

The US National Transportation Safety Board has announced that it will lead the investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Karović is facing a recovery period that may involve surgery; he is currently required to wear a neck brace for at least six weeks. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, he expressed a sense of gratitude for having survived. “I am lucky. I don’t remember much and my head and neck still hurt but I am still alive. I believe in God and I thank him every day,” he told The Guardian.

This harrowing experience raises concerns about airline safety and the protocols in place during emergencies. As investigations continue, the attention on Ryanair and similar airlines may lead to discussions about passenger safety measures and improvements that could prevent such incidents in the future.

While Karović navigates his recovery, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with air travel, and the importance of responsiveness from airline staff during crises. With regulatory bodies now involved, further scrutiny is expected as passengers, including Karović, seek accountability and greater assurance of safety in the skies.