Svetlana Grkovi saved the life of her husband Ljubiša Karovi, 61, when he was partially sucked out of a Ryanair aircraft window at 20,000ft during a mid-air emergency. The incident occurred on Friday, July 10, as the couple returned home from a summer holiday in Greece.
Engine Debris Strikes Window
The Ryanair flight departed Thessaloniki at 5.55am local time, bound for Memmingen, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot detected a problem with the engine while flying over North Macedonia and decided to turn back to Thessaloniki. During the descent, a fragment of the stricken engine detached and collided with a cabin window adjacent to where Mr Karovi was seated, reports the Express.
The collision caused the 61-year-old to be partially dragged outside the aircraft by the cabin pressure. His wife, Svetlana Grkovi, recounted her frantic efforts to rescue him during the harrowing ordeal.
Wife's Quick Reaction
Speaking to Nova, Ms Grkovi said: "It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window next to which my husband Ljubiša was sitting. I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: 'If we die, we die together.' It was horrible."
She expressed her wish to personally thank a fellow passenger who assisted in saving her husband's life throughout the traumatic experience.
Injuries and Hospitalisation
Mr Karovi remains in hospital following the incident and is understood to be unable to speak due to the severity of his injuries. His wife stated he sustained friction burns, a severely damaged hand and several other burns, while also being left in a condition of extreme shock. She explained he lost consciousness on multiple occasions during the incident and has limited recollection of what occurred.
Ryanair Statement
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning (10 July) returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight. The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal. One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki. In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9:53 local this morning."
