A passenger on a Ryanair-Air Malta flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, was nearly sucked out of his seat when a window blew out on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The incident occurred last week, with early reports suggesting that debris from a damaged right engine struck and shattered the window at approximately 16,000 feet.
What Happened During the Flight?
Ljubisa Karović was seated next to the window when it dislodged inflight, pulling his head and shoulders out of the plane. His wife and fellow passengers helped keep him inside until the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff. Ryanair confirmed the flight turned back due to a right engine issue and cabin decompression, according to North Macedonian authorities.
Why Was the Passenger Not Sucked Out Completely?
Karović had his seatbelt on, which significantly reduced the risk. Additionally, the small size of airliner windows means an adult body can physically block the hole. The suction is also short-lived, as Dr. Jason Knight, senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, explained: "The airflow is sudden and will stop once the pressure inside the cabin is the same as the pressure outside."
How Rare Is This Incident?
Such events are extremely rare but not unprecedented. In 2018, a passenger died on a Southwest Airlines flight after being partially sucked out of a broken window. The fatal incident involved a similar Boeing 737 model with CFM engines, where a fan blade broke off and shattered the window. In 2024, an Alaska Air flight saw an entire door panel blow out of a Boeing 737-Max, but the adjacent seats were unoccupied. Pilots have also experienced cockpit windshield failures, with some surviving severe injuries.
Survival and Injuries
Karović is being treated for injuries and trauma, including bleeding from the nose and mouth, a badly damaged hand, and friction burns. Dr. Simon Bennett, a pilot and director of the civil safety and security unit at the University of Leicester, noted: "Hypoxia is one risk, the other is physical trauma, and the other is psychological trauma, because it is a profoundly shocking event. But one can survive."
Who Is Most at Risk?
Passengers close to the window and not wearing a seatbelt are most vulnerable, especially if they are small enough to pass through the opening. Those in adjacent rows are protected by seats. "The maximum speed of airflow is through the window itself, so anybody close to the window that could fit through the window is at risk, but these incidents are very rare," said Knight. Doors pose a greater risk due to their size, but such failures are extremely uncommon.
Why Do These Accidents Happen?
Formal investigations are needed to determine the exact cause. Bennett expressed concern about the "exponential" rise in subcontracting manufacturing and maintenance, which can compromise quality control. Old airframes with accumulated minor fractures may also be vulnerable to explosive decompression.
What Should Passengers Do?
Wearing a seatbelt and avoiding window seats near engines may reduce risk. The shattered window on the Ryanair flight was likely around seats 12F, 14F, or 15F. After decompression, the risk of others being forced out is low, but experts advise following crew instructions. Bennett emphasized: "The people on the flight deck and in the cabin are consummate professionals, so follow their advice to the letter."
