Ryanair Passenger Injured in Window Incident Still Hospitalized; International Investigation Underway
In early July, part of a Ryanair engine broke off and shattered a cabin window during landing, injuring a 61-year-old man. He remains in hospital in shock, and multiple aviation authorities are investigating the incident.
Incident Details
In early July, during a Ryanair landing, a piece of the engine detached and struck a passenger cabin window, shattering it. The sudden decompression pulled a 61-year-old passenger, Ljubiš Grković, partially out of the window, causing serious injuries. His wife, Svetlana Grković, told the BBC that her husband is still in shock and unable to communicate normally. He suffered severe arm injuries and burns, and does not remember the event.
According to his wife, the airflow pulled him out for about two minutes. She grabbed his legs and, with the help of two other passengers, managed to pull him back inside. The man lost consciousness three times during the incident. Other passengers reported hearing a noise resembling an explosion and thought the plane was crashing.
Investigation
The incident is being investigated by the Greek Aviation and Railway Safety Investigation Service. Because the plane is a US-built Boeing 737-800 and the event occurred in North Macedonian airspace, experts from Boeing, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are involved. The 18-year-old aircraft was operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air.
A technical expert hired by the family believes the accident was caused by a defect in the right engine, with debris striking the window. However, investigators have not yet confirmed this theory. Flight data shows the aircraft suddenly lost about 2.7 kilometers of altitude.
Airline Response
Ryanair stated that the aircraft turned back and returned to Thessaloniki Airport shortly after takeoff after a cabin window came out during the flight. The landing was normal, and passengers returned to the terminal. The injured passenger received medical attention on the ground and was taken to hospital, where he remains.
