An incident involving a Ryanair plane in Greece last month saw a man’s head almost being sucked out of a shattered window due to broken engine parts, as per U.S. investigators’ report on Thursday.
The mishap occurred shortly after the Boeing 737-800 took off from Thessaloniki, Greece, when a fan blade from the right engine broke off, causing damage to the window and fuselage. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting the preliminary investigation after Greece handed over the case according to international aviation regulations.
Initial findings suggest bird remains were found inside the engine, hinting at a possible bird strike during takeoff, although the exact cause of the fan blade detachment is yet to be determined.
The 61-year-old passenger involved suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns after being partially sucked out of the window. The flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and observing smoke or fog in the cabin, prompting the deployment of emergency oxygen masks.
Passengers quickly acted to rescue the man by pulling him back into the aircraft and providing medical assistance. Videos taken inside the plane showed the aftermath of the incident, including passengers wearing oxygen masks due to a loss of cabin pressure.
Engine Maintenance and Inspection
The maintenance records indicate that the failed fan blades underwent ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without any issues detected. However, the NTSB noted previous suspected bird strikes on the same engine reported by flight crews.
While required maintenance seemed to have been carried out as scheduled, investigators will look into the inspection process and whether prior incidents contributed to the recent engine failure.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary received criticism from the NTSB for prematurely discussing the investigation focus on foreign object damage. The agency emphasized that all possibilities are being considered, and O’Leary’s comments were unauthorized.
FAA Directives and Safety Measures
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued directives in 2025 mandating modifications to engine coverings on Boeing 737s to prevent debris from causing damage in case of fan blade failures, with a deadline set for July 2028.
Notably, the required changes had not been implemented on the Ryanair aircraft involved in the recent incident. The FAA and NTSB may reassess the timeline for these modifications following this event.
The FAA refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation but assured cooperation with the NTSB to enhance safety measures based on evidence.
The Ryanair flight, operated by Malta Air, landed safely back in Thessaloniki following the emergency, with passengers receiving medical attention upon disembarking.
