Ryanair states its planes are safe after a passenger was almost pulled from a window

Ryanair wants to assure passengers that its aircraft are safe following an incident where a passenger was nearly pulled out of a window during a flight. The airline has also confirmed it has spoken to the man's family.

The incident happened recently when Ljubisa Karović was on a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. An engine failure caused parts to break an acrylic window, and the passenger was almost sucked out. His wife, Svetlana Grković, managed to hold onto his legs and, with the help of two other passengers, pulled him back inside the aircraft.

Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s group chief financial officer, stated that their customer care team has been in contact with the family since the event. He praised the crew for their quick thinking and skillful handling of the situation, which allowed them to land the aircraft safely back in Thessaloniki. He noted that everyone on board got off the plane safely, and it was a great effort by both the cabin crew and the pilots.

Sorahan mentioned it was too soon to talk about compensation for the couple as an investigation into the incident is still ongoing. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead this investigation into the incident, which involved a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Ryanair’s subsidiary, Malta Air. Ryanair is cooperating fully with the investigation.

These are the first public comments from Ryanair about the event, aside from a brief statement immediately after it happened. Sorahan added that flight bookings are strong for the busy summer period, and passengers should not worry about the safety of Ryanair’s planes. He pointed out that aviation authorities in the US and Europe have not asked Ryanair to change any of its operations.

He expressed confidence in the safety standards across all of Ryanair’s airlines, stating they meet the highest European regulations. He highlighted that their fleet is relatively young and well-maintained, and their crews are highly trained. He also mentioned that Boeing 737 aircraft have a long history with millions of safe flights worldwide, considering them among the safest ever built.

Separately, Sorahan also criticised the EU’s new digital entry-exit system (EES). This system requires non-EU citizens to provide fingerprints and a photo upon arrival, which has significantly increased waiting times at passport control in some major European airports. He advised travellers to arrive at airports earlier and expect delays, as the system has been poorly implemented.

Ryanair recently reported that its profits dropped by more than a third in the three months to June, mainly due to the increased cost of jet fuel, which had doubled because of the conflict in Iran. Although passenger numbers increased slightly, the average fare price decreased. The airline stated that fares needed to be lower due to consumer concerns about the Middle East conflict, potential fuel shortages in the EU, and general economic uncertainty.

Ryanair’s operating costs went up, while total revenue saw a small increase. Sorahan also commented on the potential sale of a rival airline, easyJet, suggesting it could lead to fewer flights and a consolidation within the European airline market.