On July 10, 2026, a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff. Ljubiša Karović, 61, was partially sucked out of a cabin window at 20,000 feet after engine debris struck the window. His wife, Svetlana Grković, grabbed his legs and held on, saving his life.
Mid-Air Emergency Over North Macedonia
The flight departed Thessaloniki at 5:55 a.m. local time. Minutes later, the pilot detected an engine issue while over North Macedonia and decided to return. During the descent, a part of the damaged engine broke away and hit the window next to Karović. The pressure difference pulled him partially out of the aircraft.
Wife's Desperate Action
Speaking to Nova, Grković said: "I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: 'If we die, we die together.' It was horrible." She also thanked another passenger who helped during the ordeal. Karović remains hospitalized with friction burns, a badly injured hand, and other burns. He is unable to speak due to injuries and has little memory of the event, having lost consciousness several times.
Ryanair's Response
A Ryanair spokesperson stated: "A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning (10 July) returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight. The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. A replacement aircraft departed at 9:53 a.m. local time."
The incident highlights the dangers of inflight debris and the quick thinking of passengers in emergencies.
