A Ryanair aircraft experienced a frightening incident last month when a broken engine part shattered a window shortly after takeoff in Greece, leading to a passenger’s head being partially sucked out before fellow passengers rescued him, according to U.S. investigators. The incident involved a Boeing 737-800’s right engine fan blade detaching, causing fragments to damage the window and fuselage. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) received the investigation from Greece under international aviation regulations.
The occurrence took place on July 10 after the flight departed Thessaloniki in Greece, with investigators discovering bird remains in the engine, suggesting a possible bird strike during takeoff. The 61-year-old passenger involved suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns as a result.
Flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and seeing smoke or fog in the cabin, prompting the emergency oxygen masks to deploy. Passengers noticed the man in a Row 11 window seat partially outside the damaged window and managed to pull him back inside the cabin. Subsequently, the injured passenger received medical attention in Row 12, with other passengers using a metal box to cover the opening until landing.
Videos from inside the aircraft revealed passengers donning oxygen masks due to pressure loss in the cabin. Maintenance records indicated that the engine’s fan blades had undergone inspections, with no damages detected despite four previous suspected bird strikes reported by flight crews. The NTSB plans to investigate how these incidents may have contributed to the eventual engine failure.
Ryanair faced criticism from the NTSB for premature comments made by CEO Michael O’Leary regarding the investigation focus. The airline refrained from further comments pending the NTSB’s final report, with Boeing and CFM International cooperating in the investigation.
Following previous incidents involving fan blade failures, the FAA issued directives to reinforce engine coverings on Boeing 737s. These changes aimed to prevent engine debris from causing further damage to the aircraft. The FAA mandated airlines to complete these modifications by July 2028, a deadline that Ryanair had not met according to the NTSB report.
The FAA may reassess the deadline in light of the recent incident, with potential adjustments to ensure aircraft safety. The agency refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation but assured support for the NTSB’s findings and any necessary safety measures. The aircraft involved in the event, a 737-800 operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, landed safely back in Thessaloniki, with passengers returning to the terminal without further incidents.