Man was pulled through a shattered plane window at 20,000 feet — his wife’s unthinkable response stunned everyone and put her own life at risk
Passengers board expecting to reach their destination safely, never imagining how drastically an emergency can unfold. That was the case for Ljubiša Karović and his wife, Svetlana Grković, during a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, according to Serbian outlet Nova.rs, on July 11, 2026. As reported by the New York Post, the terrifying incident happened on July 10, 2026, when a damaged aircraft window caused Ljubiša to be partially pulled outside the plane while it was flying at around 20,000 feet. While everyone on board struggled to understand what was happening, Svetlana made a split-second decision that would shape the outcome of the emergency.
About 30 minutes after takeoff, part of the aircraft's engine broke apart and damaged a window, causing a sudden loss of cabin pressure. Without thinking twice, Svetlana grabbed her spouse's legs to stop him from being pulled farther outside the plane. She later recalled thinking, "If we die, we die together." According to German outlet Protothem, Ljubiša was still held in place by his seatbelt, but a large part of his body had already been forced through the broken opening. Another passenger quickly joined Svetlana in holding onto him while the pilots declared an emergency and turned the plane back toward Thessaloniki.
After landing, medical teams rushed to help Ljubiša, who had suffered serious injuries during the frightening incident. Svetlana said one of his hands was badly hurt, and he had also suffered burns. She added that he was unable to remember much of what had happened because of the trauma, saying, "He's not able to communicate, he doesn't remember the whole event." Other passengers later recalled seeing him covered in blood and losing consciousness while everyone on board wore oxygen masks. Ryanair later confirmed that the flight returned after a window became dislodged during the journey, and flyers were moved onto another aircraft to continue their trip.
Although the terrifying experience left lasting memories for everyone involved, Svetlana said, "It's important to me that he's alive." Authorities have launched an investigation to determine exactly what caused the engine damage and the broken window. Being alert and observant can help save someone’s life. In another incident, a woman noticed that her husband had a health issue similar to one her late brother experienced before his cancer diagnosis. Both men suffered heartburn, and antacids wouldn't help. That's when she urged her partner to get tested, and doctors discovered a pre-cancerous condition. "Ade's experience made us realize how dangerous ignoring symptoms could be," she remarked. Her husband later received timely treatment, and credited the deceased for saving the man's life.