New Footage Shows Passenger Pulled From Ryanair Jet Window
Newly released footage obtained by 60 Minutes Australia shows the moment Ljubisa Karovic, 61, was pulled partway out of a Ryanair aircraft window at an altitude of about 16,000 feet. Karovic was sitting in seat 11F on a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on July 10 when his right shoulder, arm, and head were drawn outside the aircraft after a cabin window shattered, as reported by Times Now.
The video captures passengers wearing oxygen masks as shattered glass and strong winds filled the cabin. Fellow travelers can be seen desperately trying to hold onto Karovic to prevent him from being ejected entirely. The struggle is believed to have lasted up to two minutes before he was safely pulled back inside.
Passengers Describe the Ordeal
Among those who came to Karovic's aid was Eleni Kyranou, 33, who said, "I did what I could to help a person, to save a life. But it still haunts me, the images and the sound has stayed with me."
Another passenger, Sofia Lavou, began recording the incident after believing the plane was about to crash. "I said, 'If I'm going down, at least I will have some proof of what happened'," she said.
Karovic spent six days in the hospital following the incident. In an interview two weeks later, he described his memory of the event: "I only remember hearing the explosion, not much else," he said. "I can remember sitting in my seat and was looking forward to seeing my brother because the whole family was getting together to surprise him for his 60th birthday. I fell asleep quite quickly as I usually do on flights. Then there was this deafening explosion, which startled me."
He recounted how the event unfolded physically, but his recollection is limited. His wife, Svetlana, told the programme she grabbed his legs and thought, "If we die, we die together," as reported by Times Now.
Injuries and Aftermath
Karovic sustained injuries to his neck and shoulders, requiring a neck brace he wore for six weeks, and he also suffered burns to his face, right hand, and arm from the high-velocity wind. In addition to physical injuries, Karovic said he is not contemplating getting on another flight and has "hit rock bottom" mentally, as reported by Times Now.
Investigation into the Cause
The NTSB has been investigating the incident. According to the NTSB's preliminary report, an engine fan blade broke shortly after take-off on the flight operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. Investigators wrote that engine fragments breached the fuselage and the cabin depressurised. Additionally, the NTSB reported that flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine during the previous year, with bird remains found following two of those incidents.
Ryanair has said it will not comment further until the NTSB investigation is complete, as reported by Times Now.