A Ryanair aircraft experienced a harrowing incident when broken engine parts caused a window to shatter shortly after takeoff in Greece last month. The shattered window resulted in a passenger’s head being drawn towards the opening before fellow passengers managed to pull him back inside. According to a preliminary report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a fan blade in the Boeing 737-800’s right engine broke loose, leading to fragments damaging the window and several parts of the fuselage.
The incident occurred on July 10 after the flight departed from Thessaloniki, Greece. Investigators discovered bird remains inside the engine, indicating a possible bird strike during takeoff as a contributing factor to the fan blade detachment. The 61-year-old passenger involved suffered neck and shoulder injuries along with friction burns.
Flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and observing smoke or fog in the cabin before the deployment of emergency oxygen masks. Passengers in Row 11 noticed the man partially stuck in the damaged window, prompting others to assist in pulling him back into the cabin. Subsequently, the injured passenger received medical attention in Row 12 with the help of a doctor, while fellow passengers attempted to block the opening with a metal box until the plane landed.
Maintenance records showed that the fan blades had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without any prior damage being detected. However, the NTSB noted that the right engine had experienced four suspected bird strikes over the past year, with bird remnants found after two incidents. Investigation into the inspections and the potential impact of previous bird strikes on the engine’s condition is ongoing.
Ryanair stated that they would refrain from commenting further until the NTSB concludes its investigation, with both Boeing and CFM International collaborating in the probe. The FAA had issued directives in 2025 requiring enhancements to engine coverings on Boeing 737s after previous fan blade failures resulted in engine covering pieces detaching. The required modifications had not been implemented on the Ryanair plane, as per the NTSB report.
The FAA may review the deadline for these modifications following the recent incident, considering potential safety implications. The 737-800 aircraft involved in the incident, capable of seating up to 189 passengers, was delivered to Ryanair in 2008. Flight data revealed that the plane ascended to over 4,570 meters before descending rapidly to approximately 1,830 meters to burn fuel before landing back in Thessaloniki.
The flight was operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, and the aircraft landed safely with passengers disembarking without further issues.
