A Ryanair traveler experienced a harrowing incident when he was nearly pulled out of a damaged plane window during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen. The aircraft had to return to Greece due to an engine emergency that caused debris to strike the window.
The pilot detected engine issues shortly after departure and made the decision to go back to Thessaloniki while flying over North Macedonia. As the plane descended, a section of the damaged engine hit a cabin window, leading to the partial ejection of 61-year-old Ljubiša Karović of Serbia due to the air pressure.
His wife, Svetlana Grković, held onto his legs as he dangled outside the aircraft, fortunately secured by his seatbelt. Witness reports indicated that fellow passengers rushed to assist in pulling him back into the cabin.
The captain declared an emergency as the window shattered, deploying oxygen masks. At an altitude of around 20,000 feet, a loud noise was heard, and Mr. Karovic’s head and shoulders were reportedly outside the plane. Witnesses mentioned that he suffered injuries and lost consciousness several times due to shock and oxygen deprivation.
The injured passenger was promptly transported to a hospital in Thessaloniki for treatment. He sustained a neck wound and other bruises but remained conscious despite the shock. Ryanair confirmed the incident and noted that a replacement aircraft was arranged to continue the journey to Memmingen without significant delay.
