Woman saves husband from being sucked out of Ryanair plane after window breaks mid-flight By Carolina Costa
3 min read
 |
Svetlana Grković experienced a nightmare on board a Ryanair flight on Friday, July 10, 2026, when her husband, Ljubiša Karović, was partially sucked out of the plane after his seat window broke. With a thought of unity, she clung tightly to his legs during the emergency that shocked the passengers: “If we were to die, we would die together.”
Drama on board: the couple’s story
The dramatic incident occurred during a journey between Thessaloniki, Greece, and Memmingen, Germany. Svetlana Grković described that chaos ensued when something, supposedly a part of the engine, hit the window next to Ljubiša, causing the cabin to rupture and depressurize. The force of the air violently pushed him out of the aircraft, leaving him dangling.
Amid widespread panic, the Serbian woman reacted on instinct, holding onto her husband’s legs to prevent him from being ejected completely. She described the scene as “horrible”, a moment of despair where Ljubiša’s life hung in the balance.
The tense mid-flight rescue
Ljubiša Karović’s luck was the quick mobilization of other passengers on board. They rushed to assist Svetlana in the difficult task of pulling him back into the cabin, struggling against the force of the vacuum. The immediate action of these occupants was crucial to the success of the rescue.
Additionally, the seat belt that Ljubiša kept buckled played a vital role. He prevented the passenger’s body from being completely expelled, keeping him attached to the aircraft during the minutes of anguish.
Consequences and health status of the passenger
Ljubiša Karović remained partially outside the aircraft for approximately five minutes, according to his wife’s report. After being rescued, the oxygen masks were activated in the cabin to ensure the safety of the other occupants, who were breathing rarefied and cold air at high altitude.
The man is currently hospitalized in a state of shock, dealing with the extreme trauma and possible physical consequences of exposure to the external environment. Long-term exposure in such adverse conditions can cause serious damage to health.
Incident in numbers and aviation safety context
The case of the Ryanair flight raises questions about safety, although incidents of broken windows and sudden decompression are extremely rare in commercial aviation. Strict aircraft safety and maintenance standards aim to prevent such structural failures. In cases of emergency, protocols provide for oxygen masks to be dropped and emergency landings to be carried out.
- Airline: Ryanair
- Route: Thessaloniki (Greece) to Memmingen (Germany)
- Incident date: July 10, 2026
- Passengers involved: Ljubiša Karović and Svetlana Grković
- Exposure time: Approximately five minutes
The psychological impacts of post-trauma on the family
The experience left deep psychological marks on the couple. Svetlana Grković described the moment as “horrible”, an event that will surely reverberate in her memory for a long time. Both she and Ljubiša Karović will likely need professional support to process the trauma.
Svetlana’s emotional strength in holding onto her husband, despite her panic and fear of death, demonstrates an indissoluble bond. The ability to react in a life or death scenario was fundamental to Ljubiša’s survival.
