LONDON – At Ryanair’s annual general meeting in Dublin, chief executive Michael O’Leary pushed back against sensational reports that a passenger was partially sucked out of a broken window on a July 10 flight from northern Greece to Germany.
Incident details
The flight, operated on a Boeing 737‑800, experienced a sudden loss of cabin pressure after a fragment from a broken fan blade struck the right‑hand engine, shattering a window. Passengers reported hearing a loud, continuous vibration and seeing smoke or fog fill the cabin before oxygen masks deployed.
Ljubisa Karovic, who was seated near the damaged window, suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. He was wearing a seat belt at the time. Witnesses, including his wife, said the pressure drop pulled his head and shoulders toward the opening. His wife claimed she held onto his legs while other passengers helped pull him back into the aircraft. Flight attendants used a metal box to block the missing pane.
CEO’s response
O’Leary acknowledged that Karovic was injured and that the airline would provide compensation, but he rejected the notion that any part of the passenger’s body exited the aircraft. “He wasn’t partially out the window,” O’Leary said. “We don’t think any part of his body got out the window, but he was certainly sucked in very dramatic circumstances towards the window.” He added that the airline would not be liable for “millions and millions.”
Investigation findings
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report identified the broken fan blade as the cause of the fuselage damage that led to the window failure. The report noted that the aircraft returned safely to Greece, and that emergency procedures were followed.
While the incident sparked vivid media descriptions, the airline’s leadership emphasized that safety protocols were enacted promptly and that the aircraft’s structural integrity was restored before landing.
What this means for passengers
Ryanair’s statement underscores the importance of seat‑belt use, even on short European routes, and highlights the airline’s commitment to addressing passenger injuries through compensation. The incident also serves as a reminder that mechanical failures, though rare, can occur, and that crews are trained to manage rapid decompression events.
Travelers on Ryanair and other low‑cost carriers can expect continued adherence to safety standards, with airlines working closely with aviation authorities to investigate and rectify any equipment failures.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
