A Ryanair flight traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Germany on July 10 experienced a rare and alarming incident when one of its cabin windows was dislodged, causing a passenger to be partially pulled out of the aircraft. The passenger, 61-year-old Ljubisa Karovic, was seated by the window when the sudden decompression occurred shortly after takeoff.

Svetlana Maksimovic, Karovic’s wife, described hearing a loud bang before seeing her husband’s head and right arm extending outside the plane. She and other passengers struggled to pull Karovic back inside as the aircraft began an emergency descent. Maksimovic said that another passenger ultimately helped secure her husband, who suffered severe injuries to his neck and arm and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Thessaloniki.

Greek officials indicated that the incident may have been caused by debris from the aircraft’s engine breaking off and striking the window. Ryanair confirmed that a window was dislodged during the flight and that the plane returned to Thessaloniki operating on a single engine. Senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson shared that photographs showed damage to the engine but refrained from speculating on the exact cause pending ongoing investigations.

Multiple authorities are involved in the inquiry, including the Greek prosecutor’s office, Greek air accident investigators, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Boeing, which is assisting the investigation. The aircraft remains in Greece as the probe continues.

Karovic and his wife have retained legal counsel, with their lawyer Vassilis Tsiaras emphasizing the seriousness of the incident and the importance of the investigation’s findings. Maksimovic recounted the trauma of the event, noting the extent of her husband’s injuries and the emotional and physical toll it has taken on both of them.

In response to the incident, Ryanair highlighted the scale of its operations, with over 1.2 million flights annually, noting that while rare, such events can occur. The airline also praised the professionalism of its crew in managing the situation effectively. Wilson assured that the airline will implement any necessary recommendations arising from the investigation to enhance safety measures.