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Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
Man Sucked Out of Plane Window
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-07-16-man-sucked-out-of-plane-window/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Vocab Match, New Sentences

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: What do you think happens after the window breaks?

a) Passengers try to cover it with a suitcase.

b) The pilots continue flying to Germany.

c) The crew move everyone to the front of the plane.

A close-up photograph of an airplane cabin interior showing two adjacent passenger seats. Hanging from the overhead compartment are clear plastic oxygen tubes and masks. The plane appears to be damaged, with the central passenger window smashed and open to the elements.
No window.

Vocab List

suck out (phr. v.) — To pull something out with moving air.
scream (v.) — To make a loud, high sound because you are afraid or hurt.
bang (n.) — A sudden loud noise.
faint (v.) — To become unconscious for a short time.
halfway (adv.) — Part of the way, but not all the way.
emergency landing (n.) — A landing made because there is a serious problem.
grab (v.) — To take hold of someone or something quickly.
survive (v.) — To stay alive after a dangerous event.
Reading

Passengers on a Ryanair flight were travelling from Greece to Germany when they heard a loud bang soon after take-off. A window broke, and a man was sucked halfway out of the plane.

Ljubisa Karovic was sitting beside the window. Air went out of the plane, and half of his body was pulled outside. Luckily, his seat belt stopped him from being sucked completely out.

His wife, Svetlana Grkovic, was sitting farther back. She quickly ran to him and grabbed his legs. Another passenger held his hand, and three people worked together to pull him inside.

Oxygen masks dropped, and passengers screamed as the plane went down. Ms Grkovic said her husband fainted three times. They put a suitcase against the broken window, but it was sucked out too.

The pilots returned to Greece and made an emergency landing. Mr Karovic survived, but he was badly hurt.

Man Sucked Out of Plane Window

Level 2 Article Source: news.sky.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A close-up photograph of an airplane cabin interior showing two adjacent passenger seats. Hanging from the overhead compartment are clear plastic oxygen tubes and masks. The plane appears to be damaged, with the central passenger window smashed and open to the elements.
No window.

Passengers on a Ryanair flight were travelling from Greece to Germany when they heard a loud bang soon after take-off. A window broke, and a man was sucked halfway out of the plane.

Ljubisa Karovic was sitting beside the window. Air went out of the plane, and half of his body was pulled outside. Luckily, his seat belt stopped him from being sucked completely out.

His wife, Svetlana Grkovic, was sitting farther back. She quickly ran to him and grabbed his legs. Another passenger held his hand, and three people worked together to pull him inside.

Oxygen masks dropped, and passengers screamed as the plane went down. Ms Grkovic said her husband fainted three times. They put a suitcase against the broken window, but it was sucked out too.

The pilots returned to Greece and made an emergency landing. Mr Karovic survived, but he was badly hurt.

Speaker: Australian Female  Duration: 1:17  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Passengers on a Ryanair flight were travelling from Greece to Germany when they heard a loud bang soon after take-off. A (1) broke, and a man was sucked halfway out of the plane.

Ljubisa Karovic was sitting beside the window. Air went out of the plane, and half of his body was pulled outside. Luckily, his (2) stopped him from being sucked completely out.

His wife, Svetlana Grkovic, was sitting farther back. She quickly ran to him and grabbed his (3) . Another passenger held his hand, and three people worked together to pull him inside.

Oxygen masks dropped, and passengers screamed as the plane went down. Ms Grkovic said her husband fainted three times. They put a (4) against the broken window, but it was sucked out too.

The pilots returned to Greece and made an emergency (5) . Mr Karovic survived, but he was badly hurt.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Do you always wear your seat belt on a plane? Why or why not?

    A:

  2. Q: Do you think the passengers who helped Mr Karovic were brave? Why?

    A:

  3. Q: If the passenger next to you was sucked halfway out through a window, what would you do?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Do you always wear your seat belt on a plane? Why or why not?

    A: Yes, I always wear my seat belt it can protect me in an emergency.

    because / unless / although / if

    Yes, I always wear my seat belt because it can protect me in an emergency.

  2. Q: Do you think the passengers who helped Mr Karovic were brave? Why?

    A: I think the passengers were brave they helped Mr Karovic even though they were afraid.

    because / unless / although / if

    I think the passengers were brave because they helped Mr Karovic even though they were afraid.

  3. Q: If the passenger next to you was sucked halfway out through a window, what would you do?

    A: I would try to stay calm. , I would listen to the crew.

    Also / But / Because

    I would try to stay calm. Also, I would listen to the crew.

Discussion Questions
  1. Would you still choose a window seat after reading this story? Why or why not?
  2. Do you believe that air travel is safe? Why or why not?
  3. Do you always wear your seat belt on a plane? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think the passengers who helped Mr Karovic were brave? Why?
  5. Why do you think Mr Karovic fainted?
  6. What could the crew say to help passengers stay calm?
  7. Why is it important to react quickly in an emergency?
  8. If the passenger next to you was sucked halfway out through a window, what would you do?

Discussion Questions

  1. Would you still choose a window seat after reading this story? Why or why not?
  2. Do you believe that air travel is safe? Why or why not?
  3. Do you always wear your seat belt on a plane? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think the passengers who helped Mr Karovic were brave? Why?
  5. Why do you think Mr Karovic fainted?
  6. What could the crew say to help passengers stay calm?
  7. Why is it important to react quickly in an emergency?
  8. If the passenger next to you was sucked halfway out through a window, what would you do?

Answers Man Sucked Out of Plane Window / Level 2

Listening: (1) window, (2) seat belt, (3) legs, (4) suitcase, (5) landing

Main Idea: A passenger survived after being sucked halfway out of a plane.

True or False:

  1. True. The passengers heard a loud bang and the window broke soon after take-off.
  2. False. His seat belt stopped him from being sucked completely out.
  3. False. The pilots returned to Greece.

Multiple Choice: a, b, b

Put Events in Order:

  1. A window broke, and Mr Karovic was sucked halfway out.
  2. Passengers worked together to pull him inside.
  3. A suitcase was sucked out of the broken window.
  4. The pilots made an emergency landing.

Vocabulary:

  1. Suck out (phr v): To pull something out with the movement of air.
  2. Seat belt (n): A strong belt that holds someone in a seat.
  3. Faint (v): To become unconscious for a short time.
  1. Emergency landing (n): A landing made because there is a serious problem.
  2. Survive (v): To stay alive after a dangerous event.

New Sentences: 1. grab; 2. bang; 3. faint; 4. survive; 5. halfway

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Reason. 3) Addition.

  1. because
  2. because
  3. Also

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