A dramatic incident unfolded aboard a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, after a plane window was damaged during the journey, causing a sudden loss of cabin pressure.
The most seriously injured passenger was 61 year old Serbian citizen Ljubiša Karović, who was seated next to the damaged window. According to his wife, Svetlana, his seatbelt may have saved his life as the force from the sudden pressure change began pulling him toward the damaged area.
Passengers sitting nearby immediately reacted and rushed to help. A woman seated next to Karović grabbed his hand, while several other travelers managed to pull him back into the cabin.
Svetlana said panic quickly spread throughout the aircraft after the incident. Oxygen masks were automatically released, and her husband lost consciousness three times. Passengers also attempted to block the damaged window area with a suitcase, but the strong airflow pushed it away.
Karović remains in the hospital with serious injuries. He is wearing a medical neck brace, and his wife said both of them suffered severe physical and emotional shock following the incident. She also claimed that the airline, Ryanair, has not contacted the family so far.
A video from inside the aircraft has since been published, showing the damaged window, passengers assisting the injured man and travelers wearing oxygen masks after the cabin pressure problem occurred.
A technical expert hired by the family suggested that the incident may have been caused by an engine related failure. Aviation specialist Christos Glavopoulos said that a part of the engine may have broken off and struck the aircraft window with significant force, causing the damage.
According to the expert, the failure could have been linked to a malfunction involving the T12 temperature sensor, material fatigue or internal damage to the engine structure.
Aviation authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the window damage and the events that led to the emergency situation.
