A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to return shortly after takeoff on July 10 when a passenger window dislodged mid-air, causing a sudden depressurization. The incident left 61-year-old Serbian businessman Ljubisa Karovic partially pulled out of the aircraft through the broken window, resulting in serious neck and shoulder injuries.

Karovic, who had been dozing before the window shattered, described the moment as a terrifying explosion followed by chaos. “The noise before the chaos is always there when I close my eyes to sleep,” he said, reflecting on the trauma. Fellow passengers quickly intervened, grabbing Karovic and pulling him back inside the Boeing 737-800. His wife Svetlana, seated directly behind him, along with other travelers, held onto his legs during the ordeal. Svetlana expressed particular gratitude toward one passenger, believed to be Albanian, who played a key role in rescuing Karovic by attempting to block the open window first with a bag, which was sucked out, and then successfully with a suitcase.

Karovic is currently recovering at a rented villa near Thessaloniki. He has sustained friction burns and other injuries and must wear a neck brace for at least six weeks. Medical professionals have indicated he may require surgery. Speaking about his condition, Karovic acknowledged the physical pain but emphasized the mental toll: “Mentally, I am destroyed.” He also reflected on his narrow escape, attributing his survival to factors such as being strapped in by his seatbelt.

Ryanair confirmed the aircraft’s prompt return to Thessaloniki following the incident. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, stated that early investigations pointed to a “foreign object” striking the plane’s engine, leading a fan blade to break off and damage the window. This sequence triggered the depressurization event.

The investigation into the incident, initially led by Greece’s Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority, has since been taken over by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Officials continue to examine the precise circumstances that caused the window to fail and the impact on the engine during the flight. The airline and authorities have not reported any other injuries or damage apart from those sustained by Karovic.