A Serbian passenger who partially pulled through a shattered window on Ryanair flight FR1879 over Greece has described the July 10 ordeal, saying the explosion continues to haunt him.
Ljubisa Karović, a 61-year-old entrepreneur, told The Guardian that he remembers the window shattering beside seat 11F before the aircraft suffered rapid depressurisation at about 15,000 feet.
The Malta Air-operated Boeing 737-800 was flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. Karović’s head and right arm extended outside the aircraft before his wife, Svetlana Grković, and other passengers pulled him back.
Karović said he lost consciousness during the emergency. He sustained burns, bruising and injuries to his head, neck and shoulder, and now wears a neck brace. Doctors will assess after six weeks whether he requires surgery.
Ryanair disputed claims that its cabin crew failed to assist. The airline said crew members followed depressurisation procedures and helped Karović after the pilots descended to a safe altitude.
Read: Ryanair Plane Window Breaks as Passenger Pulled Out
The aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki about 75 minutes after departure. Investigators have not confirmed the cause of the window failure, despite early reports suggesting possible engine debris.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation after Greece delegated responsibility under international aviation rules.
