Ryanair CEO disputes claim passenger was partly sucked out of plane window after engine failure

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has disputed claims that a passenger was partly sucked out of a shattered aircraft window during a terrifying flight from Greece to Germany in July.

Ljubisa Karovic suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns when the window shattered shortly after takeoff on July 10.

Karovic’s wife and other passengers previously said the sudden loss of cabin pressure caused his head and shoulders to be pulled towards and partly through the broken window.

His wife said she grabbed his legs while other passengers rushed to help pull him away from the opening.

However, O’Leary has now challenged that account, saying he does not believe any part of Karovic’s body actually passed through the window.

“He wasn’t partially out the window,” O’Leary said following Ryanair’s annual general meeting in Dublin.

“We don’t think any part of his body got out the window, but he was certainly sucked in very dramatic circumstances towards the window.”

Karovic was wearing his seat belt when the incident occurred.

Passengers and crew intervened as the aircraft returned to Greece, with flight attendants using a metal box to cover the damaged window.

Engine failure shattered the aircraft window

A preliminary investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board found that fragments from a broken fan blade in the Boeing 737-800’s right engine struck the aircraft.

The debris damaged the fuselage and other parts of the plane before causing the window to shatter.

Flight attendants told investigators they heard and felt a loud, continuous vibration during the incident. Smoke or fog then appeared to fill the cabin before the oxygen masks deployed.

Despite the dramatic sequence of events, the aircraft was able to return safely to Greece.

O’Leary acknowledged that Karovic was injured and said he was entitled to compensation, but rejected suggestions that the passenger should receive an exceptionally large payout.

“He is entitled to compensation,” O’Leary said, while dismissing claims that the case could involve “millions and millions”.

The incident remains under investigation, with the NTSB’s preliminary findings providing further detail about how the engine failure led to the shattered window.

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.