A Ryanair plane experienced a terrifying incident last month in Greece when a broken engine part shattered a window shortly after takeoff. This led to a passenger’s head being sucked out of the opening before other passengers managed to pull him back in. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that a fan blade in the Boeing 737-800’s right engine broke loose, causing fragments to damage the window and fuselage.
The incident occurred on July 10 after the plane departed from Thessaloniki, Greece. Investigators found bird remains inside the engine, suggesting a possible bird strike during takeoff, although the exact cause of the fan blade detachment is still under investigation. The 61-year-old passenger involved suffered injuries to the neck, shoulder, and friction burns.
Flight attendants recounted hearing loud vibrations and observing smoke or fog in the cabin, prompting the deployment of emergency oxygen masks. Passengers in Row 11 noticed the damaged window with the partially lodged passenger and acted quickly to pull him back inside the cabin. They used a metal box to cover the opening until the plane could land safely.
Maintenance records revealed that the fan blades underwent regular inspections with no prior damage detected, although there were reports of suspected bird strikes to the same engine over the past year. The NTSB will further investigate the maintenance procedures and potential contributions of previous incidents to the recent engine failure.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary received criticism from the NTSB for prematurely focusing on foreign object damage in public statements. The investigation remains ongoing, with Boeing and CFM International cooperating with authorities. The FAA had issued directives in 2025 to strengthen engine coverings on Boeing 737s after previous incidents, with a deadline set for airlines to complete modifications by July 2028.
The FAA and NTSB may reassess this deadline in light of the recent event to ensure enhanced safety measures are in place. The 737-800 involved in the incident, operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, was safely landed back in Thessaloniki, with passengers receiving medical assistance upon arrival.
