Ljubiša Karović, 61, from Serbia, was travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany when he was suddenly sucked out of the plane's window. His wife Svetlana desperately clung onto his legs for five agonising minutes as fellow passengers helped hold him in place.
Wife Claims Crew Did Nothing
Svetlana, seated in 14C three rows behind her husband, said: “I rushed over too. None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers.” She praised a man she believed was Albanian who used a suitcase to block the window after a bag was sucked out.
Emergency Landing and Injuries
The aircraft turned back for an emergency landing at its departure airport. Ljubiša suffered serious injuries, requiring a neck brace for six weeks, and has since experienced a swollen and numb head, temporary paralysis on the right side, and partial damage to his right ear and eye.
Passenger's Account
Speaking to Bild, Ljubiša said: “I fell asleep... After some time I was woken up by a massive bang like a bomb. Only for one moment I was conscious and cannot remember the rest.” He described the ordeal as a “nightmare experience” that left him at “rock bottom” with panic attacks.
Ryanair's Response
Ryanair defended its staff, stating the cabin crew did a “phenomenal job”. The Daily Star has approached the airline for comment.
