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Passenger Recounts Near-Fatal Plunge From Airliner Window
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ท Argentina /Disasters & Emergencies

Passenger Recounts Near-Fatal Plunge From Airliner Window

From La Naciรณn · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Serbian passenger described the moment a plane window "exploded," leading to cabin depressurization.
  • He recounted losing consciousness and being partially sucked out of the aircraft, crediting his survival to fate and his seatbelt.
  • The passenger is recovering but faces potential surgery and struggles with the psychological impact, questioning the compensation received.

Ljubisa Karoviฤ‡, a 61-year-old Serbian businessman, has spoken out for the first time about the terrifying incident where a window blew out on his flight from Greece to Germany, nearly sucking him out of the cabin. Recounting the event, Karoviฤ‡ described hearing an "explosion" โ€“ a sound he now associates with the ensuing chaos.

What I remember is the explosion. It was the noise that precedes chaos, the noise that is always there when I close my eyes to sleep.

โ€” Ljubisa Karoviฤ‡Ljubisa Karoviฤ‡ described the initial sound of the incident.

Karoviฤ‡, who was traveling to Germany to celebrate his brother's birthday, suffered burns and bruising on his right arm and continues to wear a neck brace. He explained that he lost consciousness during the emergency and that his wife, Svetlana Grkoviฤ‡, has helped him piece together the events. "They tell me I fainted twice inside the plane and that my face briefly swelled and deformed due to the pressure, the gust of air," he said.

I don't remember much and my head and neck still hurt, but I'm alive. It could have been the seatbelt, the fact that I was still fastened. But maybe it's destiny. I believe in God and I thank him every day. I am lucky.

โ€” Ljubisa Karoviฤ‡Karoviฤ‡ reflected on his survival and his beliefs.

His lawyer in Greece, Vasilis Tsiaras, stated that Karoviฤ‡ was "on the verge of death" when the cabin lost pressure. "Ljubisa was on the verge of death. When the cabin lost pressure, he was ejected through the window, chest first, and immediately lost consciousness," Tsiaras said. Karoviฤ‡ himself believes his survival was a matter of fate and gratitude to God, acknowledging the role his seatbelt may have played.

They tell me I fainted twice inside the plane and that my face briefly swelled and deformed due to the pressure, the gust of air. My wife reminds me.

โ€” Ljubisa Karoviฤ‡Karoviฤ‡ shared details recounted by his wife about his condition during the emergency.

Despite being discharged from the hospital four days ago, Karoviฤ‡ finds it difficult to imagine flying again. Doctors have advised him to wear a neck brace for at least six weeks and are evaluating the need for surgery. He expressed that images of the explosion and chaos return to his mind, but he is focused on recovery. Karoviฤ‡ also questioned the compensation and response he has received since the incident.

Ljubisa was on the verge of death. When the cabin lost pressure, he was ejected through the window, chest first, and immediately lost consciousness.

โ€” Vasilis TsiarasKaroviฤ‡'s lawyer described the critical moments of the incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Naciรณn in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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