U.S. aviation investigators have determined that a broken engine fan blade caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair flight last month, partially sucking a passenger out of the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on August 13, confirming that bird remains were found inside the engine, suggesting a possible bird strike as the cause of the failure.
The incident occurred on July 10 during a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, the No. 2 (right) engine experienced a fan-blade-out failure, sending debris into the fuselage and damaging a passenger window in row 11. The passenger seated next to the window, 61-year-old Ljubisa Karovic, had his head and right shoulder partially sucked out of the plane due to sudden cabin depressurization. Fellow passengers and crew pulled him back inside, and the flight returned to Thessaloniki for an emergency landing.
Core Facts of the Incident
- Engine failure: A fan blade in the right engine broke off, damaging the fuselage and a passenger window.
- Passenger injury: Karovic suffered neck, shoulder injuries, and friction burns but was stabilized after the emergency landing.
- Emergency response: The flight crew declared an emergency, deployed oxygen masks, and returned to Thessaloniki International Airport.
- Investigation findings: The NTSB confirmed bird remains were found in the engine, with four suspected bird strikes reported to the engine in the prior year.
Timeline of Events
According to the NTSB report, the flight crew received a high vibration alert from the No. 2 engine during climb-out. They reduced power and conducted checks, but vibrations increased, prompting a loud bang. The crew declared an emergency and initiated a descent. Flight attendants reported hearing and feeling vibrations, seeing smoke, and deploying oxygen masks. Passengers described a loud noise—one compared it to a tire bursting—followed by oxygen masks dropping and the plane losing altitude.
Engine Inspections and Maintenance
The NTSB noted that the engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026, with no faults found. However, maintenance records indicated four suspected bird strikes to the same engine in the previous year, with bird remains recovered in two cases. The CFM engine, a joint venture between Safran (France) and GE (U.S.), is under scrutiny, though neither company has commented publicly.
Passenger and Crew Accounts
Passengers reported panic and confusion after the window shattered. Videos shared by Greek media showed passengers wearing oxygen masks and first responders attending to the injured. Karovic’s wife, Svetlana Grkovic Maksimovic, recounted holding onto his legs to prevent him from being fully pulled out. Other passengers assisted in pulling him back into the cabin.
Ryanair’s Response
Ryanair issued a statement at the time confirming the flight returned to Thessaloniki after a passenger window dislodged in-flight. The airline has not provided further public comments since the NTSB’s report.
Broader Implications
The incident raises questions about engine maintenance protocols, bird strike prevention, and cabin safety measures during rapid depressurization. Aviation experts have noted that while fan blade failures are rare, they can have catastrophic consequences. The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, with a focus on determining the root cause of the fan blade failure.
What’s Next
The NTSB will continue analyzing flight data recorders, engine debris, and maintenance logs to determine why the fan blade broke. The findings could lead to regulatory recommendations or maintenance procedure updates for Boeing 737 operators. Meanwhile, Ryanair has not indicated any changes to its flight operations pending the final report.