Ryanair Passenger Half-Body Sucked Out of Plane Window; Wife Recalls Life-or-Death Moment

(Central News Agency, Thessaloniki, Greece, April 14 — comprehensive international report) An Irish Ryanair Boeing 737 passenger flight departing from Thessaloniki, Greece, on the 10th experienced a terrifying incident when a passenger was partially sucked out of a detached aircraft window shortly after takeoff. Svetlana Maksimovic, the passenger's wife, recounted the life-or-death moment in an interview with Reuters on the 14th.

Shortly after Maksimovic and her husband, Ljubisa Karovic, boarded and took their seats, they suddenly heard a loud explosion from the aircraft engine. Within seconds, she saw the window beside her husband detach, and his upper body was sucked out of the plane.

According to Reuters, Greek officials described the incident as rare. At the time of the accident, Karovic was seated in a window seat.

Maksimovic said, "I've never heard such a loud noise in my life. I turned around and saw half of his body already outside the window... His head and right arm were completely outside the cabin."

She said her husband appeared very relaxed after takeoff and may have been asleep.

At the time of the incident, a female passenger seated beside her husband held tightly onto his left arm, while another passenger rushed to assist. Maksimovic left her seat to help her husband, placing an oxygen mask on him.

They eventually managed to pull him back into the cabin. By then, the aircraft had already begun descending.

Maksimovic said her husband's face was completely deformed and covered in blood, with his ears, eyes, and nose severely twisted. He remains under medical treatment.

According to Greek media and airport sources, the incident was likely caused by engine debris breaking the window, resulting in cabin depressurization.

Maksimovic said her husband is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Thessaloniki, suffering serious injuries to his neck and arm.

Boeing stated that authorities in North Macedonia are investigating the incident, and the company is fully cooperating. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are also involved in the investigation.

Greek prosecutors have also launched an investigation into the case. The aircraft remains in Greece.

The couple has hired a lawyer, who said, "This incident is extremely serious." He emphasized that the final investigation results will be crucial.

Ryanair has confirmed the in-flight window detachment incident but stated it will refrain from further comment during the investigation. (Compiled by: Chi-Chin Ling) 1150715

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