Ryanair Boss Challenges ‘Sucked Out’ Window Claim
A 61-year-old passenger suffered serious neck and shoulder injuries on 10 July when engine debris shattered a cabin window on Ryanair flight 1879 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, causing rapid depressurisation before the Boeing 737 returned safely to Thessaloniki. Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary now disputes reports that any part of Ljubisa Karović’s body went outside the aircraft, although US investigators say he was found partially lodged in the broken window.
The aircraft was climbing through about 16,000ft when the crew received a high-vibration warning from the right engine. The vibration briefly eased after power was reduced, then rose sharply before a loud bang and cabin-altitude warning. Oxygen masks dropped as the pilots began an emergency descent. A flight attendant found Karović at the missing row-11 window, where other passengers helped pull him fully back into the cabin.
The NTSB says a fan blade in the right engine separated and fragments struck the fuselage, including the window beside seat 11F. Investigators have also found fatigue features on the failed blade and bird remains in the engine, but they have not yet determined the final cause. The investigation remains open, and the preliminary report does not settle the dispute over whether Karović’s head or shoulders were outside the aircraft.
What to Do During a Sudden Cabin Depressurisation
- Seat belt: Keep it fastened whenever you are seated, even when the sign is off.
- Oxygen masks: Put your own mask on first, then help others.
- Crew instructions: Follow them immediately and stay seated unless told otherwise.
- Broken window: Do not treat the improvised actions in this incident as standard guidance.
- After landing: Seek medical help if injured or unwell.
This incident is also a reminder not to copy dramatic onboard improvisations seen in news reports. A passenger retrieved a metal box to cover the opening, but the NTSB records that as part of what happened, not as passenger guidance. In a decompression, the clearest official advice is to use the oxygen mask immediately, keep restraints secure while seated and follow cabin-crew instructions until the aircraft reaches a safer altitude.