A Ryanair aircraft experienced a harrowing incident in Greece last month when broken engine parts caused a window to shatter shortly after takeoff. The shattered window led to a passenger’s head being partially sucked through the opening, with fellow passengers managing to pull him back inside, as reported by U.S. investigators on Thursday.
The incident involved a fan blade breaking loose from the right engine of the Boeing 737-800, resulting in fragments damaging the window and several areas of the fuselage. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a preliminary investigation after Greece handed over the case based on international aviation regulations.
Initial findings indicated that bird remains were discovered inside the engine, suggesting a possible bird strike during takeoff. However, the exact cause of the fan blade detachment remains undetermined. The 61-year-old passenger involved in the incident sustained injuries to the neck, shoulder, and friction burns.
Flight attendants on board reported hearing loud vibrations, seeing smoke or fog in the cabin, and witnessing the deployment of emergency oxygen masks. Passengers reacted swiftly to assist the affected individual who was partially trapped in the damaged window, ultimately pulling him back into the aircraft. Subsequent actions included medical attention from a doctor and efforts to secure the damaged area with a metal box until landing.
Videos from inside the plane depicted passengers wearing oxygen masks due to cabin pressure loss and emergency response activities post-landing. Maintenance records revealed that the fan blades had undergone inspections without any damage detected, although previous suspected bird strikes on the engine had been reported by flight crews.
Ryanair, Boeing, and CFM International are cooperating with the investigation, following directives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reinforce engine coverings on Boeing 737s after previous incidents involving fan blade failures. The FAA had set a deadline for airlines to implement modifications to prevent engine covering detachment, a deadline that had not been met by Ryanair at the time of the incident.
The NTSB report highlighted potential reconsideration of the modification deadline in light of the recent event. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will take necessary safety measures based on the investigation’s outcomes. The aircraft involved in the incident, a 737-800 operated by Malta Air under Ryanair’s subsidiary, returned safely to Thessaloniki after the incident, with passengers receiving appropriate assistance upon landing.