Man sucked out of Ryanair window in mid-air incident, wife recounts

Ljubisa Karović was sucked headfirst out of a dislodged cabin window on a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on July 10, with his wife Svetlana Grković and others holding onto him for about two minutes until they pulled him back inside. Source: BBC; The Guardian

What happened

The flight had just taken off when a loud bang was heard. Svetlana Grković told Reuters that she turned to see her husband's head and right arm already outside the plane Source: CNA. She grabbed his legs, and with the help of two other passengers, managed to pull him back in Source: The Guardian. Karović lost consciousness three times during the ordeal Source: BBC. The cabin decompressed, oxygen masks dropped, and the aircraft dropped 9,000ft abruptly, according to tracking data Source: BBC; The Guardian.

Injuries and aftermath

Karović, 61, remains hospitalized in Thessaloniki with severe neck and arm injuries, burns, and shock Source: CNA; BBC. He cannot communicate and does not remember the event Source: BBC. His wife said she is grateful he is alive Source: The Guardian. Ryanair said the aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal Source: BBC.

Investigation

The cause is believed to be a piece of engine breaking off and smashing the window Source: CNA; BBC. A technical adviser for the family attributes the incident to a right engine failure causing debris to strike the window Source: BBC. The investigation is being led by North Macedonia, with involvement from the US NTSB and EASA Source: CNA. A Greek prosecutor has also launched a probe Source: CNA. Ryanair declined further comment while the investigation continues Source: CNA.