Ljubisa Karović, a 61-year-old Serbian entrepreneur, recounted the harrowing experience of being partially sucked out of a Ryanair airplane after a window catastrophically failed shortly after takeoff on July 10. The incident occurred on a flight from Greece to Germany, leaving Karović with severe burns and bruises on his right arm.
Karović described the terrifying moments leading up to the incident, stating that the "explosion is what I remember." He added that the "noise before the chaos" is what haunts him. He reported fainting twice during the event and experiencing swelling and deformation of his face due to the sudden rush of air. "I am lucky," Karović told The Guardian. "I don’t remember much and my head and neck still hurt, but I am still alive."
According to his lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, Karović was "hurled out of the window from his chest up" when the cabin lost pressure. At an altitude of 15,000 feet and traveling at over 373 mph, Karović was reportedly "half in and out of the plane" for approximately one to two minutes. His wife, Svetlana, who was seated three rows behind him, rushed to help.
Svetlana Karović stated that it was passengers, not the cabin crew, who initially provided assistance. She specifically mentioned a male passenger who attempted to pull her husband back inside and then used a bag and a suitcase to block the opening. "None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers," she said.
Ryanair, however, defended its cabin crew, asserting they performed a "phenomenal job" during the emergency. The airline stated that during depressurization and rapid descent, all passengers and crew are required to remain seated with oxygen masks on. "As soon as the aircraft descended to a safe altitude, our cabin crew attended to and assisted Mr Karović," Ryanair said in a statement, adding that medical assistance was arranged upon landing.
Karović's lawyer disputes this account, alleging that the cabin crew was in a state of shock and that passengers were the ones who rallied to help. Karović is currently recovering and must wear a neck brace for six weeks, after which doctors will determine if surgery is necessary. He expressed a desire for compensation, stating that his recovery is ongoing and that he has only received communication from Ryanair regarding flight rebooking.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board announced it would be taking over the investigation into the incident, working under Greece's direction. Karović was traveling to Germany to celebrate his brother's birthday.