Passengers on board a Ryanair flight attempted to block a smashed window with luggage after a man suffered severe injuries as he was ‘sucked out’ of the moving plane
Frightened Ryanair passengers scrambled to stuff a suitcase into a cabin window after it smashed mid flight, but it was sucked out.
The attempt to block the window was part of the frantic mission to save a man who was sucked out of the jet window at 20,000ft.
Ljubiša Karović, from Serbia, was travelling with his wife, Svetlana Grković, on a Ryanair flight on Friday, July 10 when horror struck.
The pilot noticed a problem with the engine over North Macedonia and decided to return to Thessaloniki.
On this descent part of the flight damaged engine detached from the plane and smashed a cabin window, causing the 61-year-old to be partially sucked out of the jet due to the pressure as he was exposed to brutal 370mph winds.
Ljubiša was left hanging outside the aircraft while his wife, Svetlana Grković, clung to his feet.
Three other brave passengers helped his wife and managed to drag the businessman back into the plane, however the broken window remained a threat to those on board.
In a moment of desperation the travellers attempted to block the gap with any luggage they could find.
The couple’s lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, told The Sun: “There was a big hole that they tried to seal with a suitcase, which was a little bit soft and was sucked from the plane.
“They tried to do the same with more of a tough suitcase and managed to stop the flow of the air.”
Svetlana has given her thanks to the heroic passenger who helped her save her husband’s life. She told Nova: ‘It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window next to which my husband Ljubiša was sitting.
“I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: ‘If we die, we die together.’ It was horrible.'”
Mr Karović remains in hospital and is believed to be unable to speak due to his injuries.
He also has friction burns and is in a state of severe shock. His wife said his hand is badly injured and he also has a series of burns.
A Ryanair statement read: “A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning (10 July) returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight. The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal.
“One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 local this morning.”
