A routine flight from Greece to Germany turned into a nightmare when a cabin window suddenly shattered onboard a Ryanair low-cost flight. Passenger Ljubiša Karović from Serbia, who was sitting next to the window, was partially sucked out of the cabin and left hanging outside the plane for about two minutes before fellow passengers managed to pull him back in.

The couple was en route from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany on Friday when the accident happened. Shortly after takeoff, a loud bang was suddenly heard onboard. One of the cabin windows had broken, and the situation onboard quickly became dramatic.

His wife, Svetlana Maksimu Ivic, described the incident to Greek and Serbian media as complete chaos. According to her, her husband fainted several times during the dramatic event.

“Panic broke out on the plane,” said Svetlana Maksimu Ivic.

Ljubiša Karović was seated right next to the fractured window and was pulled out through the opening with parts of his body hanging outside the airplane. According to his wife, he was in this exposed position for an extended moment before three other passengers were able to intervene and hold him back inside the cabin.

“He remained outside for up to two minutes,” Svetlana Maksimu Ivic told Greek broadcaster ERT.

The fact that he was wearing his seatbelt and that passengers reacted immediately is believed to have been crucial in preventing the situation from ending far worse.

Terrified of airplanes

After the dramatic incident, Ljubiša Karović was taken to hospital. He sustained injuries to his shoulder, neck, and hand, as well as burns.

“My husband has serious injuries. He is in shock, and when he hears about airplanes, he trembles,” his wife recounted.

Svetlana Maksimu Ivic has also struggled to process what happened.

“I’m not doing well mentally and am taking tranquilizers. I was terrified. I was afraid that the plane would crash,” she said, adding that she was also among those who fought to keep him inside the cabin.

Theory

One possible explanation reported in several media outlets is that a part of the engine may have come loose and struck one of the cabin’s windows, causing it to shatter.

According to information available so far, the engine part may have detached due to a technical fault or a fracture in the engine. The exact cause has yet to be determined and the incident is under investigation.