Man Nearly Pulled Out of Ryanair Plane Window: Wife’s Brave Rescue

Sun Sep 06 2026 07:12:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A passenger narrowly escaped a terrifying emergency when part of a Ryanair plane tried to exit the cabin. Hear the wife’s brave rescue and the investigation behind this scary incident.

During a short flight from Greece to Germany, a Ryanair Boeing 737 experienced a sudden decompression when a window chunk ripped away. The plane dropped 9,000 ft in moments, sending one passenger’s head and shoulders tumbling. His wife, Svetlana Grković, pulled him back with help from other passengers, while he lost consciousness three times. Investigators suspect a right‑engine failure caused the damage, but a full cause remains under investigation. The incident has sparked a renewed call for stricter safety checks on older aircraft.

A 61‑year‑old passenger was nearly sucked out of a Ryanair plane when a window just ripped away during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen. The aircraft – a 18‑year‑old Boeing 737‑800 – suddenly dropped 9,000 ft (2,700 m) and a rapid loss of cabin pressure followed.

Svetlana Grković, who was traveling with her husband Ljubisa Karović, grabbed hold of his legs as he was half‑outside the plane. “If we die, we die together,” she said. With the help of two other passengers, she managed to pull him back inside while he lost consciousness three times.

Grković described how a part of the aircraft’s right engine appeared to have fractured, blasting debris that smashed the cabin window and created the dangerous decompression. Passengers reported hearing an explosion and felt the air pressure drop so fast it felt like an emergency door had opened.

The husband suffered serious injuries: a badly scarred hand, burns, and shock. He remains in hospital and is being monitored for further complications.

Investigations are being led by the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority with support from the FAA, EASA and Boeing. Ryanair said it had landed safely, but the window did not re‑attach, forcing the flight to return.