Why a Serb almost sucked through the window of a Ryanair plane is known

A man was nearly pulled through the window of a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen after a section of the aircraft’s engine broke off and struck the cabin, causing a partial decompression mid-flight. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff on Friday, according to reports from local media and aviation observers. The man, identified as Ljubisa Karovic, a Serbian national, was partially drawn outside the plane before being pulled back inside by his wife, Svetlana Grkovic Maksimovic, who held onto his legs while others helped him back into the cabin. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-8AS with registration number FR1879, eventually landed safely at Thessaloniki International Airport in Greece. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has completed its investigation into the incident, concluding that the damage to the window resulted from debris from the aircraft's right engine. According to the NTSB report, a fan blade in the engine fractured during ascent, sending a piece of the broken blade into the fuselage. This caused the window to shatter, leading to rapid decompression. The crew had previously been alerted to unusual vibrations in the engine, prompting them to reduce power and conduct inspections. However, the vibrations intensified again, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and begin descending. Passengers reported hearing a loud bang followed by intense shaking and a small amount of smoke before oxygen masks were deployed. One flight attendant described seeing passengers calling for help after one individual was partially sucked out of the damaged window. The situation was chaotic, but the man was ultimately brought back inside the cabin with assistance from other passengers and crew members. His wife played a crucial role in keeping him secured until he could be fully retrieved. The NTSB investigation revealed that the engine had undergone an inspection in May using ultrasound technology, which found no faults. However, the incident highlighted a critical failure in the engine's fan blade, which had not been detected during routine checks. The agency noted that prior to this incident, the crew had reported four possible bird strikes involving Engine Two, though no significant damage had been found in previous examinations. Karovic suffered injuries to his head and neck and required medical attention upon landing. He later spoke publicly about the experience, describing the explosion-like noise and the chaos that followed. “I remember the explosion,” he said. “It was an extraordinary sound, followed by chaos. I hear it every time I close my eyes. I was lucky. I don’t remember much, but my head and neck hurt badly. Maybe the seatbelt saved me, maybe it was fate. I believe in God and thank Him every day.” The incident has raised questions about the reliability of engine inspections and the potential risks posed by undetected mechanical failures. The NTSB findings indicate that the fracture in the fan blade was the primary cause of the window breach, despite earlier inspections showing no issues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulatory bodies have yet to issue formal statements regarding the incident, but the case is likely to prompt further scrutiny of maintenance protocols and safety standards in commercial aviation. Ryanair confirmed the safe return of the aircraft and expressed concern over the well-being of all passengers and crew. The airline stated it would cooperate fully with ongoing investigations and review its procedures to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. Meanwhile, the focus remains on understanding how a seemingly intact engine could fail under normal operating conditions, raising broader concerns about the integrity of aging aircraft components and the effectiveness of current diagnostic tools used in the industry.