Passenger Nearly Ejected from Ryanair Flight Following Sudden Decompression
A dramatic incident unfolded on a Ryanair flight when a passenger was almost ejected through a cabin window after a sudden decompression occurred mid-air. The incident took place as the aircraft was traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.
Wife's Heroic Response
Svetlana Grković, traveling with her husband Ljubisa Karović, recounted the terrifying moment when her husband was nearly pulled out of the plane. According to Grković, Karović was "outside up to his chest" for about two minutes after the window next to him shattered. Grković instinctively grabbed his legs, thinking, "If we die, we die together." With assistance from two other passengers, she managed to pull Karović back into the cabin.
Details of the Incident
The ordeal reportedly began when debris from a damaged engine struck the cabin window, causing it to break and leading to rapid decompression. Witnesses on the flight described hearing a loud noise, similar to an explosion, which contributed to the panic on board. A technical advisor suggested that the right engine's failure might have caused the debris to hit the window, although this has not yet been confirmed by official investigators.
Karović, who had maintained his seatbelt, was seriously injured, suffering burns and a particularly severe injury to his hand. His wife mentioned that he lost consciousness multiple times and does not recall the entire event.
Flight's Emergency Landing
The Ryanair flight, which had been airborne for roughly 10 minutes, made an emergency descent of about 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) before returning to Thessaloniki. Ryanair confirmed the incident, stating that the flight returned "shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged in flight." The aircraft landed without further incident, and medical assistance was provided to Karović upon landing.
Passenger Reactions
Fellow passengers described the scene as chaotic and frightening. Christina, a passenger, told Radio Thessaloniki about the immediate realization of decompression and the ensuing panic, while another traveler, Sofia, detailed the severe difficulty in breathing and the sight of Karović bleeding and losing consciousness.
Ongoing Investigation
The flight was operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, using an 18-year-old Boeing 737-800. The incident is under investigation by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority, with support from international aviation bodies including Boeing, the US Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, due to the aircraft's origin and the airspace where the incident occurred.
As of now, Karović remains hospitalized, and the investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.
Source: Original Article
