Man Who Was Nearly Sucked Out Of Ryanair Flight Says He Is ‘Mentally Destroyed’

The man who was nearly sucked out of the broken window of a Ryanair flight earlier this month has spoken out about his terrifying near-death experience, stating that he is “mentally destroyed” and experiencing ongoing nightmares.

Serbian national Ljubisa Karović, 61, was flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, on a Boeing 737-800, when a piece of debris from the aircraft’s right engine broke off and shattered the cabin window at seat 11F.

The rapid drop in cabin pressure instantly sucked Karović’s head and right shoulder outside the plane window. Thankfully, he was wearing his seatbelt, which almost certainly saved him from being launched out of the plane completely.

His wife, Svetlana, who was sitting three rows behind him, lunged forward to grab his legs. With help from other passengers, she held onto him for nearly two minutes until they managed to pull him back inside the cabin.

As it was shortly after takeoff, flight crew performed an emergency landing back at Thessaloniki, with one passenger using a suitcase to block the open window during the descent. Smart!

Karović is still in Thessaloniki recovering, and as you can imagine, is not doing too great. He sustained cuts to his face, friction burns, and serious trauma to his spine and shoulder. Aside from that, there’s also the psychological trauma of seeing his life flash before his eyes in such a rapid and insane fashion.

Karović told Bild: “As soon as I close my eyes, I see pictures of what I experienced, those few minutes, it’s a nightmare.

“I can’t go out, everything bothers me, mentally I am destroyed, this has had a huge impact on my life. Whenever I hear the sound of a plane, I become stressed.”

Indeed, I imagine he might be a little scared of flying after this, and is certainly due a massive, life-changing payout from Ryanair when it’s all said and done.

Ryanair CFO Neil Sorahan stated it is too early to discuss financial compensation while investigations are ongoing, but in the meantime, you can guarantee that Karović is going to milk his physical and psychological injuries for all they’re worth.

Not that he has to, of course. The guy almost died and may even need additional surgeries as he recovers over the next few months. But still, the more interviews he gives about being ‘mentally destroyed’, the larger the incoming payout.

Then again, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has suggested the blowout might have been caused by “foreign object damage” (like a bird strike) rather than a mechanical failure.

If proven true by investigators, this factor could legally reduce the liability and compensation amounts owed by Ryanair or Boeing.

Let’s see how it plays out. In the meantime, Ryanair have sent the Karovićs an email about rebooking their flight (seriously). I guess they’re kind of obliged o offer though.

For the British Airways pilot who was sacked after snorting coke off a woman’s breasts before an 11-hour flight, click HERE.