Ryanair CEO Addresses Window Incident: Injuries Acknowledged, Passenger’s Account Disputed

Ryanair CEO Disputes Passenger’s Window-Sucking Claim, Acknowledges Injuries

On July 10, 2026, a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a serious incident involving a shattered cabin window and rapid depressurization. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary report indicates a broken engine fan blade caused the damage, a dispute has emerged regarding the extent of passenger Ljubisa Karovic’s injuries and his proximity to the window opening. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has publicly stated that while Karovic was drawn toward the window, he was not partially sucked out.

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, when an engine fan blade reportedly broke apart. Fragments from this failure struck and shattered a cabin window, leading to a sudden loss of cabin pressure. Karovic, a Serbian businessman, described hearing a loud “explosion” and claimed his head and right shoulder were pulled towards the opening. His account is supported by eyewitnesses who stated that his wife and other passengers had to pull him back into the cabin, with one passenger using a suitcase to block the opening.

Airline Acknowledges Injury, Contests Full Account

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary acknowledged that Karovic suffered neck and shoulder injuries, as well as friction burns, but firmly disputed the passenger’s claim of being partially sucked out of the aircraft. O’Leary stated that the airline would await the final NTSB report before fully accepting Karovic’s version of events. He expressed that the airline does not believe any part of Karovic’s body exited the window, despite the dramatic circumstances.

The airline’s stance is that while Karovic was undeniably pulled towards the damaged window due to the rapid depressurization, he remained inside the cabin. O’Leary indicated that Ryanair would continue to contest the passenger’s account of being partially outside the aircraft, even after the investigation concludes. This public disagreement highlights a key point of contention between the airline and the injured passenger.

NTSB Preliminary Findings Point to Mechanical Failure

The preliminary report from the NTSB provides a mechanical explanation for the window damage. It found that a broken engine fan blade came apart shortly after takeoff, and debris from this failure struck and shattered the cabin window. This event directly led to the rapid depressurization experienced by the aircraft. The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with Boeing and engine manufacturer GE.

The NTSB’s preliminary findings focus on the mechanical cause of the incident, detailing the broken fan blade and its impact on the window. The final report is expected to address the competing descriptions of what occurred at the window itself, including the passenger’s account and the airline’s perspective. The aircraft, carrying 149 passengers and four crew members, returned safely to Thessaloniki following the emergency.

Compensation Talks Underway Amidst Dispute

Ryanair has indicated that it is in communication with Karovic’s lawyer and acknowledges the passenger’s entitlement to compensation for his injuries. However, O’Leary rejected the notion that the case would result in a payout of “millions and millions,” suggesting that Karovic is entitled to “some compensation.” The CEO also dismissed the possibility of a class-action lawsuit stemming from the incident.

The discussions regarding compensation are proceeding separately from the factual dispute over whether Karovic was partially outside the aircraft. The airline’s position is that the compensation is for the injuries sustained due to the mechanical failure and depressurization, not for an incident involving a passenger exiting the cabin. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify all aspects of the event, from the mechanical cause to the precise sequence of events at the window.

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