Serbian businessman survives plane window explosion – a miracle of passengers' instinct
A Serbian entrepreneur, Ljubisa Karović, miraculously survived being ejected from a Ryanair flight just before the aircraft suffered a depressurization, thanks to the quick thinking of fellow passengers.
A near-fatal flight: witness accounts detail chaotic escape
Just before 61-year-old Karović was nearly sucked out of the aircraft in seat 11F, a thunderous explosion ripped through the cabin, shaking him awake. The noise of the window shattering – a prelude to chaos – continues to haunt him. He vividly remembers the ‘explosion,’ describing it as ‘the noise before the chaos,’ a constant reminder of the terrifying ordeal.
Karović, sporting a neck brace and staring into the distance, recounted the harrowing event to The Guardian, stating his survival was ‘lucky.’ He suffered severe burns and bruises to his arm, a testament to the force of the ejection. The incident, still under investigation, saw him propelled approximately 15,000 feet into the air, alongside the aircraft, at speeds exceeding 600km/h.
Passengers step forward: a chain of heroic actions
Passengers on flight FR1879, including his wife Svetlana seated three rows behind, described a scene of frantic urgency. “I rushed over,” Svetlana stated. “None of the cabin crew helped. It was the passengers.” One Albanian passenger, identified as a key figure, reportedly used a bag and then a suitcase to block the window, preventing Karović from being pulled further into the void. The excruciating moment – estimated to be between one-and-a-half and two minutes – saw Karović “half in and out of the plane,” according to witnesses.
Airline defenses fall short
Ryanair has defended its crew’s performance, citing standard depressurization protocols and the crew’s prompt assistance. However, Karović’s lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, vehemently disputes this, asserting that Karović “fainted two or three times,” both outside and inside the aircraft, and that the crew’s fear paralyzed them. “Everyone has agreed that the crew was in a state of shock, afraid that the plane was about to crash,” Tsiaras explained. “It was the other passengers who rallied and gave him water.”
A slow and uncertain recovery
Just eleven days after being discharged from hospital, Karović remains shaken. Doctors warn of a lengthy recovery, requiring him to wear a neck brace for at least six weeks, with potential surgery pending. He’s vowed to avoid flying in the future and is seeking compensation – not just for a rebooking, but for the trauma endured. “Always make sure to wear your seatbelt,” he urged, his voice filled with a quiet determination. “I don’t want anyone to suffer what happened to me.”