Ljubiša Karović, a 61-year-old Serbian aluminium factory owner, was partly sucked out of a Ryanair plane window mid-flight and says all he remembers is the 'explosion'. He was asleep when the cabin window next to his seat shattered, jolting him awake and sending his head outside the aircraft. He survived only because his wife, Svetlana Grković, held onto his legs while his head dangled outside the Boeing 737 for five minutes.
Survivor's account
Ljubiša told The Guardian: 'It's the noise before the chaos, the noise that is always there when I close my eyes to sleep.' Friction burns now cover his right arm to his chest, but he said he was 'lucky' to be alive. 'I don't remember much and my head and neck still hurt but I am still alive. It could have been the seatbelt, the fact that I was still strapped in. But maybe it is fate. I believe in God and I thank him every day.'
Incident details
Flight FR1879 had been in the air for only 10 minutes after leaving Thessaloniki, Greece, when the second engine failed, according to aviation tracker ADS-B Exchange. A part of the engine crashed into the window by seat 11F while the plane was 20,000ft above North Macedonia. The difference in air pressure, known as decompression, forced Ljubiša's body out the window.
Passenger heroism
Svetlana, seated three rows behind in 14C, described oxygen masks dangling and bottles flying. 'None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers. One man, I think he was an Albanian, was incredible. He did all he could to bring him in and then tried to block the window, first with a bag that was immediately sucked out and then with a suitcase, which worked. We are eternally grateful to him.' When Ljubiša was finally pulled inside unconscious, his face was swollen and deformed due to the pressure. He fainted two more times as the plane rapidly returned to the airport.
Ryanair response
Ryanair said the aircraft turned back after a passenger window 'dislodged inflight' and praised cabin crew for a 'phenomenal job'. The airline stated: 'As soon as the aircraft descended to a safe altitude, our cabin crew attended to and assisted Mr Karović, moving him to alternate seats (beside his wife) and arranged for a doctor onboard to sit with them until the aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki. They also arranged to have medical assistance standing by on landing in Thessaloniki.'
Investigation
Greek aviation officials are investigating the incident involving a Boeing 737 that has been in service since 2008. Footage shared by aviation safety experts shows the fan blades of the craft were damaged. The aircraft also suffered a tyre burst during takeoff from Milan in 2023, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
