Broken engine parts caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair aircraft shortly after taking off in Greece last month. This incident led to a passenger’s head being partially sucked out of the broken window before being pulled back inside by fellow passengers, as revealed by U.S. investigators on Thursday.
According to a preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a fan blade in the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 detached, resulting in fragments damaging the window and several parts of the fuselage. Greece transferred the investigation to the U.S. agency following international aviation regulations.
The event occurred on July 10 after the plane left Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Investigators discovered bird remnants in the engine, indicating a potential bird strike during takeoff, although the exact cause of the fan blade detachment remains undetermined.
The 61-year-old passenger whose head was drawn towards the window sustained neck and shoulder injuries along with friction burns. Flight attendants reported experiencing intense vibrations, smoke, and cabin fog before emergency oxygen masks deployed.
Passengers intervened to assist the injured individual, with one using a metal box to cover the damaged window until the aircraft landed. Video footage from inside the plane depicted passengers wearing oxygen masks due to the loss of cabin pressure. Maintenance records indicated that the failed fan blades had undergone ultrasonic inspections with no damage detected.
Ryanair refrained from further comments pending the NTSB investigation’s completion, while both Boeing and CFM International, the engine manufacturer, pledged cooperation. The FAA issued directives in 2025 requiring airlines to reinforce engine coverings on Boeing 737s to prevent fan blade failures from endangering passengers.
The NTSB report highlighted that the necessary modifications had not been implemented on the Ryanair plane by the deadline. The FAA may reassess the timeline for these adjustments following this incident. The aircraft involved, a 737-800 operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, landed safely back in Thessaloniki after the emergency, with one passenger receiving medical attention on the ground.