A passenger who claims he was partially sucked out of a shattered airplane window at 38,000 feet is planning to sue Ryanair for millions of euros. Ljubiša Karović, 61, was traveling on a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, when the incident occurred.
Karović's lawyer, Vasileios Tsiaras, is working with a U.S. law firm to represent Karović and 35 other passengers who were on the flight. The potential class-action lawsuit could total tens of millions of euros, according to German outlet Bild.
Preliminary findings from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggest that a fan blade on the Boeing 737 aircraft broke, and the window shattered due to engine debris. However, flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes to the same engine in the year preceding the incident, with bird remains found after two of those events. Tsiaras has questioned whether bird strikes could have caused the window damage and raised concerns about the aircraft's maintenance.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has publicly dismissed claims that Karović was sucked out of the window, calling them "nonsensical." O'Leary stated that the window shattered, oxygen masks deployed, and pilots immediately descended to a safe altitude, describing it as a traumatic experience. He specifically addressed the passenger in seat 11F, saying, "He did not, however, get sucked out the window and all these kind of nonsensical claims."
In response to O'Leary's comments, Tsiaras told Bild that it is "ridiculous" to suggest no one was outside the aircraft, citing approximately 70 witnesses. He added that if Karović had not been wearing his seatbelt, he likely would not have survived. Witnesses have described Karović as dangling diagonally out of the aircraft, with the wind hitting his face.
Karović sustained 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. He was also treated for burns on his face and right hand and arm from the high-velocity wind. He was required to wear a neck brace for six weeks and experiences acute neck and shoulder pain, with doctors warning that surgery may be necessary if the pain persists.
The lawyer stated that decisions regarding legal action against Ryanair, Boeing, maintenance companies, or the engine manufacturer will be made after the final expert report on the engine damage is available. Tsiaras noted that U.S. courts typically award higher compensation than European courts, which influenced the decision to involve a U.S. law firm. The possibility of a lawsuit against Boeing would target the company's U.S. headquarters.
Earlier, the NTSB had cautioned O'Leary against making public statements about the investigation's focus, indicating that no potential causes had been ruled out and that he was not authorized to discuss the investigation. Ryanair has stated that it will not comment further until the NTSB investigation is concluded. The NTSB has not yet released its final report.