Ljubisa Karović, the 61-year-old Serbian entrepreneur who was partially sucked out of a Ryanair flight on July 10 after a window shattered shortly after takeoff, has spoken publicly for the first time about the terrifying experience. In an interview with The Guardian, Karović described being “half in and out of the plane” as the aircraft flew at 15,000 feet at speeds exceeding 600 km/h (373 mph).
Moment of Explosion Haunts Survivor
Karović, who was seated in window seat 11F on the flight from Greece to Germany, said the memory of the explosion keeps him awake at night. “The explosion is what I remember. It’s the noise before the chaos, the noise that is always there when I close my eyes to sleep,” he told The Guardian. He added that he fainted multiple times during the incident, and his face was briefly swollen and deformed due to the pressure and rush of air.
Injuries and Recovery
The father-of-two suffered serious burns and bruises on his right arm, extending from his armpit to his chest. Doctors have advised him to wear a neck brace for the next six weeks, after which they will determine if surgery is necessary. Despite his injuries, Karović considers himself lucky. “I am lucky. I don’t remember much and my head and neck still hurt, but I am still alive,” he said. He attributed his survival to his seatbelt and fate, stating, “It could have been the seatbelt, the fact that I was still strapped in. But maybe it is fate. I believe in God and I thank him every day.”
Lawyer Says Passenger ‘Alive by Mistake’
Karović’s lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, described the incident as a near-death experience, saying Karović “dipped in and out of death.” Tsiaras recounted, “When the cabin lost pressure, he was hurled out of the window from his chest up and immediately lost consciousness. At 15,000 feet he ended up with his head and right arm outside the aircraft as it moved at a speed of more than 600km/h. Imagine that! He looked at death, that other world, and came back.”
Wife and Fellow Passengers Come to the Rescue
Karović’s wife, Svetlana, who was seated three rows behind him, rushed to help and held onto her husband for about one-and-a-half to two minutes while he was partially outside the plane. She praised a fellow passenger, believed to be Albanian, who helped pull Karović back in and used a suitcase to block the shattered window after a bag was sucked out. “None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers,” Svetlana said. “We are eternally grateful to him.”
Dispute Over Cabin Crew Response
Ryanair has defended its cabin crew, stating they did a “phenomenal job.” However, Tsiaras disputes this, alleging that the crew was in shock and failed to assist. “We have no complaint with the pilot, who followed the safety protocols and dealt with the situation very well,” Tsiaras said. “My client fainted two or three times... At no point did the cabin crew offer to help.” In a statement, Ryanair explained that during depressurization and rapid descent, all passengers and crew must stay seated and wear oxygen masks. Once the aircraft descended to a safe altitude, crew members attended to Karović, moved him to alternate seats, and arranged for a doctor onboard.
Lack of Support and Compensation
Karović’s son, who booked the ticket, has been contacted by Ryanair, but neither Karović nor his wife have received any direct support or compensation from the airline. Karović expressed a desire for compensation, saying, “There should be compensation too. Not only emails that have focused on rebooking the flight.” The US National Transportation Safety Board has announced it will take over the investigation under Greece’s direction.
