The wife of a passenger who was partially pulled out of a Ryanair aircraft during a mid-air incident has recounted the dramatic moments when she held onto her husband in an effort to stop him from being dragged outside the plane.
Svetlana Grković said her husband, 61-year-old Ljubisa Karović, was left hanging out of the aircraft up to his chest after the incident occurred shortly after take-off. Reacting instantly, she grabbed his legs and refused to let go despite the chaos unfolding inside the cabin.
Recalling the terrifying moments, Grković said she was prepared to face the worst alongside her husband and was determined not to leave him behind. With the assistance of two fellow passengers, she eventually managed to pull Karović back into the aircraft. According to her, he lost consciousness several times during the ordeal before he could be safely brought back inside.
The incident occurred aboard a Malta Air flight operated on behalf of Ryanair that was travelling from Thessaloniki in Greece to Memmingen in Germany. Flight tracking data showed that the aircraft rapidly descended around 9,000 feet roughly 10 minutes after departure. Passengers later said Karović’s seatbelt remained fastened, which prevented him from being completely pulled out of the aircraft and allowed those nearby to hold onto him while part of his body remained exposed to the powerful airflow outside.
Karović is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Greece and remains in a serious condition. According to his wife, he suffered significant injuries to his hand and sustained burns during the incident. She said her husband is still in shock and has little recollection of what happened during the flight.
Grković also expressed gratitude to two passengers who came to their assistance during the emergency, saying their quick response played a crucial role in saving her husband’s life. She said she hoped to meet them again in person to thank them for their help and courage during the incident.