A Serbian passenger who was almost sucked out of a Ryanair aircraft after a window blew out mid-flight says the airline’s response since the incident has amounted to little more than an offer to change his ticket.
Ljubisa Karovic, 61, was dozing on an early-morning Ryanair service from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, when the window beside him gave way at around 20,000ft, dragging him partway out of the fuselage.
No Direct Contact From the Airline, Family Says
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Karovic said that in the fortnight since the incident, communication had gone only to his son, who had booked the trip, and had been limited to questions about rebooking and his wellbeing. He said nobody from the company had contacted him directly, not even a phone call to show any concern.
Passengers Held Him In, Not Crew, Wife Claims
Mr Karovic was kept from being fully pulled out of the aircraft by his wife, Svetlana, 48, and other passengers, who grabbed his legs and held on until the plane stabilised. Mrs Karovic said that fellow travellers, rather than the crew, were the ones who acted, telling the Daily Mail the cabin staff appeared more frightened than the passengers around them.
Mr Karovic sustained friction burns and bruising to his arm and chest. Other passengers on board flight FR1879 described seeing him hanging out of the plane in a manner reminiscent of a comic-book hero. Mr Karovic himself has no memory of the moment, having lost consciousness, though he says the aftermath has left him struggling to sleep, haunted by imagined sounds of the explosion.
Aircraft Diverted Back to Greece
The sudden depressurisation prompted the pilot to descend to a safer altitude while oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin. Once Mr Karovic was pulled back inside and reseated, the Boeing 737 turned back to Thessaloniki, where it was met by paramedics and an ambulance.
Legal Action Under Way
The couple have instructed Greek lawyer Vasilis Tsiaras, who says he intends to pursue substantial compensation. Tsiaras argues the case is about more than money, insisting on accountability and clarity over both what happened and the aircraft’s condition beforehand. He has also raised questions about the crew’s conduct, suggesting fear of a crash left them unable to assist while Mr Karovic hung from the window.
Ryanair Defends Its Crew
Ryanair has declined to comment further while the matter is under formal investigation, though it has previously maintained that its aircraft are safe and that it had been in touch with the family. Group chief financial officer Neil Sorahan said the airline’s customer care team had been in contact with the family since the incident, and praised the crew and pilots for returning the aircraft safely to Thessaloniki with all passengers accounted for.
The US National Transportation Safety Board has examined the aircraft and is expected to publish a draft report within about four weeks. Ryanair says it is cooperating fully with that investigation.
