Passengers on a Ryanair flight scrambled to stuff a suitcase into a cabin window after it smashed mid-flight, but the luggage was sucked out of the plane. The desperate attempt was part of a frantic effort to save a man who was partially sucked out of the jet at 20,000ft.
Incident Details
Ljubiša Karović, 61, from Serbia, was travelling with his wife, Svetlana Grković, on a Ryanair flight on Friday, July 10. The pilot noticed a problem with the engine over North Macedonia and decided to return to Thessaloniki. During the descent, a damaged engine detached from the plane and smashed a cabin window, causing Karović to be partially sucked out due to pressure changes, exposing him to brutal 370mph winds.
Karović was left hanging outside the aircraft while his wife clung to his feet. Three other brave passengers helped her drag the businessman back into the plane. However, the broken window remained a threat to those on board. In a moment of desperation, travellers attempted to block the gap with any luggage they could find.
Passenger and Lawyer Accounts
The couple’s lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, told The Sun: “There was a big hole that they tried to seal with a suitcase, which was a little bit soft and was sucked from the plane. They tried to do the same with more of a tough suitcase and managed to stop the flow of the air.”
Svetlana thanked the heroic passengers who helped save her husband's life. She told Nova: “It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window next to which my husband Ljubiša was sitting. I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: 'If we die, we die together.' It was horrible.”
Injuries and Aftermath
Mr Karović remains in hospital and is believed to be unable to speak due to his injuries. He also has friction burns and is in a state of severe shock. His wife said his hand is badly injured and he has a series of burns.
Ryanair Statement
A Ryanair statement read: “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. In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 local this morning.”
