Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary disputes claims that a Serbian businessman was sucked out of a Boeing 737 window during a July flight from Greece to Germany, insisting the injured passenger remained inside the cabin despite a sudden depressurisation that severely injured him.
Disputing the Window Account After a July Flight From Greece
The incident unfolded on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany in July, when a window beside 61-year-old Serbian businessman Ljubisa Karović shattered during the journey as reported by the source pack. Karović’s lawyer stated that the passenger was hauled back inside after his head and right arm were pulled through the opening by sudden depressurisation.
Speaking to reporters after the airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary challenged that narrative directly. He maintained that while the passenger experienced severe suction, his body never left the aircraft structure.
“He wasn’t partially out the window. Part of his face didn’t get out the window. We don’t think any part of his body got out the window, but he was certainly sucked in very dramatic circumstances towards the window.”
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair chief executive
O’Leary added that the traveler was belted into the seat during the flight, noting that the airline would dispute any claims regarding anatomy extending outside the fuselage at the conclusion of the review process.
Victim Accounts and Rescue Efforts on Board
The airline executive’s public statements contrast sharply with the accounts provided by Karović and his wife, Svetlana. In an interview, Svetlana Karović described watching her husband half in and out of the plane while blacked out from the sudden cabin failure.
According to his wife, an unknown male passenger—believed to be Albanian—rushed to assist. The helper attempted to block the gaping window first with a bag that immediately flew out, and then successfully with a suitcase. Karović later credited his seatbelt with keeping him anchored inside the cabin as he lost consciousness.
The physical and psychological toll on Karović has been severe. His lawyer, Vasilis Tsiaras, remarked that his client is alive by mistake, while the victim continues to suffer from neck and head injuries alongside lasting trauma from the deafening explosion.
Investigation Status and Potential Compensation
Official accident inquiries remain ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States is leading the investigation into the climb-out incident from Thessaloniki, working alongside Boeing, engine manufacturer GE, and Ryanair. Investigators have also noted potential connections to bird remains discovered in the engine.
While Ryanair has declined further comment until federal investigators finalize their findings, Dublin Live reported that the airline has communicated with Karović’s legal representation regarding compensation for neck and shoulder injuries. Even so, O’Leary asserted that he does not anticipate any class action lawsuits or multimillion-dollar payouts stemming from the event.
Shareholder Pushback on Pay Deals at the Dublin AGM
The Dublin gathering also brought governance friction, as approximately a third of shareholders voted against O’Leary’s remuneration package. The deal carries a maximum value of €150 million ($174 million) and ties stock options to ambitious performance benchmarks.
| Pay Deal Component | Target Requirement |
|---|---|
| Share Options | 10 million shares at €26.70 ($31.05) each |
| Profit Threshold | Annual profit reaching €4 billion ($4.65 billion) |
| Share Price Alternative | Exceed €42 ($48.84) for 28 successive days |
| Tenure Requirement | Remain head of Ryanair until 2032 |
Clashing With Air Traffic Control Leadership
Beyond internal votes and accident inquiries, O’Leary reignited a long-standing feud with British air navigation leadership following a major technical failure. The Ryanair executive accused Martin Rolfe, the boss of National Air Traffic Services (Nats), of telling lies to save his own skin after a flight processing glitch at the Swanwick center disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Nats maintained that the technical issue stemmed from its flight processing system and differed entirely from outages recorded in previous years. Aviation minister Keir Mather confirmed to the Commons that the malfunction was not cyber-related, though the Civil Aviation Authority has been instructed to conduct an independent review ahead of a formal report due from Nats.
