Serbian Businessman Survives Being Partially Sucked Through Plane Window

Ljubiša Karović, a Serbian businessman, recounted the harrowing moments when a window exploded on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany, nearly sucking him out of the aircraft. The terrifying incident, which occurred on a morning flight, left Karović with burns and bruises on his right arm, chest, and head. He described the initial sound of the explosion as the clearest memory, a noise that still haunts him. "The explosion is what I remember," Karović told The Guardian. "It's the sound that preceded the chaos. That sound is always there when I close my eyes to sleep."

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The explosion is what I remember. It's the sound that preceded the chaos. That sound is always there when I close my eyes to sleep.

Karović, 61, was seated by the window when the cabin lost pressure. He was partially expelled through the opening, finding himself at an altitude of approximately 4,500 meters with his head and right arm outside the plane traveling at over 600 kilometers per hour. He believes his seatbelt may have saved him, or perhaps it was fate. "I was lucky. I don't remember much, and my head and neck still hurt, but I am alive. Maybe the seatbelt saved me because I was buckled. Or maybe it was destiny. I believe in God and thank him every day," he said.

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I was lucky. I don't remember much, and my head and neck still hurt, but I am alive. Maybe the seatbelt saved me because I was buckled. Or maybe it was destiny. I believe in God and thank him every day.

His Greek lawyer, Vasilis Cijaras, described the survival as "by sheer luck." Cijaras explained that Karović was on the verge of death, losing consciousness as he was pulled out. "Ljubiša was on the brink of death. When the cabin lost pressure, he was ejected through the window up to his chest and immediately lost consciousness," the lawyer stated. "He looked death in the eye and came back."

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Ljubiša was on the brink of death. When the cabin lost pressure, he was ejected through the window up to his chest and immediately lost consciousness.

Passengers, including Karović's wife Svetlana, who was seated three rows behind him, recalled the chaos. Oxygen masks dropped, and objects flew around the cabin as passengers desperately tried to pull Karović back inside. Svetlana specifically mentioned the bravery of another passenger, described as Albanian, who made significant efforts to help secure Karović and then attempted to seal the opening with a bag and later a suitcase, which ultimately worked. "No cabin crew helped," Svetlana Karović said. "Passengers helped. One man, I think he was Albanian, was incredible. He did everything to get him back inside, and then tried to close the opening first with a bag, which the air immediately threw out, and then a suitcase, which succeeded. We will be eternally grateful to him."

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He looked death in the eye and came back.