Broken engine components caused a Ryanair aircraft window to shatter shortly after takeoff in Greece last month, leading to a passenger’s head being pulled through the opening before being rescued by fellow passengers, according to U.S. investigators. The incident involved a fan blade in the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 breaking loose, resulting in fragments damaging the window and fuselage. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a preliminary investigation after Greece handed over the case based on international aviation regulations.
The occurrence took place on July 10 post the departure from Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Investigators discovered bird remnants inside the engine, indicating a possible bird strike during takeoff, though the exact cause of the fan blade detachment remains undetermined. The 61-year-old passenger who suffered injuries when his head was pulled through the window experienced neck and shoulder injuries along with friction burns.
Flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and observing smoke or fog filling the cabin before the emergency oxygen masks deployed. Passengers assisted in pulling the man back inside the cabin after he became lodged in the damaged window. The injured passenger received medical attention from a doctor in Row 12, while other passengers utilized a metal box to cover the opening until the plane landed.
Videos recorded inside the aircraft depicted passengers wearing oxygen masks due to pressure loss in the cabin. One video displayed the blown-out window with a man wearing an oxygen mask nearby. Maintenance records indicated that the fan blades on the failed engine underwent inspections in May 2026 and November 2025, showing no damage. However, flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes on the same engine over the past year, with bird remains discovered following two incidents.
The NTSB criticized Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary for prematurely discussing foreign object damage rather than waiting for the investigation’s completion. Ryanair, Boeing, and CFM International are cooperating with the investigation, following three FAA directives issued last year to reinforce engine coverings on Boeing 737s. The directives aim to prevent engine covering fragments from detaching if a fan blade dislodges, with airlines required to complete modifications by July 2028.
The NTSB report indicated that the necessary changes had not been made to the Ryanair plane. The FAA may reconsider the deadline for modifications following the recent incident. The FAA refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation but affirmed its support for the NTSB and willingness to take safety measures as needed. The aircraft involved in the incident, a 737-800, was delivered to Ryanair in 2008 and operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary. Passengers were unharmed, and the aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki following the incident.