A Ryanair passenger has shared his harrowing account of being partially sucked out of a jet window at 15,000 feet after a sudden, violent decompression event. Ljubisa Karovic described the terrifying moment a loud explosion shattered his window, propelling him partially outside the aircraft traveling at approximately 500 miles per hour. His wife, Svetlana Grkovic Maksimovic, and other passengers heroically clung to him, preventing him from being completely ejected and falling to his death.
A Peaceful Flight Turns to Terror
The incident occurred on Ryanair flight FR1879 from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. Mr. Karovic, seated in 11F, had fallen asleep shortly after takeoff. Around 20 minutes into the flight, as the Boeing 737 reached an altitude of 15,000 feet, a deafening bang, likened to a bomb exploding, shattered the window next to him. The rapid cabin decompression violently pulled Mr. Karovic out of his seat, with his head, arm, and shoulder emerging from the aircraft.
He described the sensation of the extreme pressure change as akin to being repeatedly punched by a heavyweight boxer. Oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin, and panic ensued among passengers. However, his wife, Svetlana, who was seated three rows behind him, reacted immediately. She lunged forward, grabbed his legs, and, with the help of other passengers, began a desperate struggle to pull him back inside.
A Wife’s Courage and Passenger Heroism
Svetlana Grkovic Maksimovic recounted the horrifying sight of her husband partially outside the plane. “I rushed over and immediately grabbed his left arm and legs while another female passenger was also helping me. We pulled him back in together,” she stated. She described a difficult ‘tug of war’ against the powerful forces pulling him out, praying intensely for his survival. “His head was out of the plane, and I knew he couldn’t hear me, but I was too focused on holding onto him so didn’t shout or anything. But inside, I was praying with all my heart that he survives and I’m so happy that God answered my prayer.”
Other passengers played a crucial role. One particularly strong passenger is credited with helping to secure Mr. Karovic back inside and then attempting to block the broken window, first with a bag and then a suitcase, though these were also dislodged by the airflow. Mr. Karovic expressed profound gratitude to these individuals, stating, “I don’t know their names, but I am eternally grateful to them. May God protect them wherever they go. Without them, my husband would be dead.”
The Aftermath and Lingering Trauma
Mr. Karovic, 61, has no memory of the moments he was dangling outside the plane, having lost consciousness. He recalls waking to the sound of the explosion and later experiencing disorientation and pain. After being pulled back inside, he reportedly fainted multiple times. He suffered burns to his face and right hand from the high-speed wind and sustained significant neck and shoulder pain, requiring him to wear a neck brace for six weeks. Doctors have indicated he may need surgery if the pain persists.
The flight made an emergency landing back in Thessaloniki, where Mr. Karovic was immediately taken to a hospital. He spent six days there before recovering at a villa. Despite his physical injuries, the psychological impact has been profound. “This incident has completely turned my life upside down. I fear that I’ll never be able to live and work the way I used to,” he shared. “The thought of getting on a plane absolutely terrifies me.” His wife also expressed deep apprehension about flying again.
Criticism of Airline Response
The couple has voiced criticism regarding Ryanair’s response to the incident. They claim that during the critical moments when Mr. Karovic was being pulled from the aircraft, the cabin crew remained seated and did not offer assistance, appearing more frightened than the passengers. “When we were battling to hold onto Ljubisa the crew didn’t do anything, they looked more scared than us. It was only the passengers who helped and were brave,” Svetlana stated.
Furthermore, they allege a lack of direct communication and concern from the airline following the event. “All we’ve had is emails to my son, who booked our flights, asking if we want to rebook and asking how I was. But nobody from the company has contacted me directly, not even a phone call to show any concern,” Mr. Karovic said. His wife added, “It’s disgusting.”
The couple is being represented by a Greek lawyer who intends to seek significant compensation and accountability for the incident. He highlighted concerns about the aircraft’s condition and the crew’s conduct, suggesting they may have been too fearful to act.
Ongoing Investigation
The incident is under investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Preliminary assessments by a technical advisor appointed by Mr. Karovic suggest the event may have originated from a failure in the aircraft’s right engine, causing debris to strike and shatter the window. Ryanair has stated that it is cooperating fully with the investigation and that the engine on the 18-year-old Boeing 737 had undergone recent servicing.
In earlier statements, Ryanair emphasized the safety of its aircraft and crew. The airline’s chief financial officer noted that the customer care team had been in touch with the family and praised the crew’s actions in safely returning the aircraft to Thessaloniki. They also stated that cabin crew attended to Mr. Karovic once the plane descended to a safe altitude and arranged for medical assistance upon landing.
Mr. Karovic, a businessman who frequently traveled between Serbia and Greece, now faces a long road to recovery, both physically and psychologically, from the near-fatal ordeal that has profoundly altered his life.
