\n<\/p>\n
Ljubisa Karovic suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns when the window shattered shortly after takeoff on July 10.<\/p>\n
Karovic\u2019s wife and other passengers previously said the sudden loss of cabin pressure caused his head and shoulders to be pulled towards and partly through the broken window.<\/p>\n
His wife said she grabbed his legs while other passengers rushed to help pull him away from the opening.<\/p>\n
However, O\u2019Leary has now challenged that account, saying he does not believe any part of Karovic\u2019s body actually passed through the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t partially out the window,\u201d O\u2019Leary said following Ryanair\u2019s annual general meeting in Dublin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t think any part of his body got out the window, but he was certainly sucked in very dramatic circumstances towards the window.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karovic was wearing his seat belt when the incident occurred.<\/p>\n
Passengers and crew intervened as the aircraft returned to Greece, with flight attendants using a metal box to cover the damaged window.<\/p>\n
A preliminary investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board found that fragments from a broken fan blade in the Boeing 737-800\u2019s right engine struck the aircraft.<\/p>\n
The debris damaged the fuselage and other parts of the plane before causing the window to shatter.<\/p>\n
Flight attendants told investigators they heard and felt a loud, continuous vibration during the incident. Smoke or fog then appeared to fill the cabin before the oxygen masks deployed.<\/p>\n
Despite the dramatic sequence of events, the aircraft was able to return safely to Greece.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Leary acknowledged that Karovic was injured and said he was entitled to compensation, but rejected suggestions that the passenger should receive an exceptionally large payout.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is entitled to compensation,\u201d O\u2019Leary said, while dismissing claims that the case could involve \u201cmillions and millions\u201d.<\/p>\n
The incident remains under investigation, with the NTSB\u2019s preliminary findings providing further detail about how the engine failure led to the shattered window.<\/p>\n