The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report Thursday stating that fragments from a broken engine fan blade caused a cabin window to fail on a Ryanair flight last month. The incident resulted in a passenger's head and right shoulder being partially pulled through the resulting opening before the crew performed an emergency landing.
The event occurred on July 10 during a flight operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. According to the NTSB, the right engine experienced a "fan-blade-out failure" shortly after takeoff. The Greek authorities delegated the full investigation of the incident to the U.S.-based NTSB in the days following the event.
Investigators reported that the flight crew initially received a "high vibration" alert during the climb and reduced engine power. The report stated the vibrations later increased and were followed by a loud bang, prompting the crew to declare an emergency. Flight attendants observed smoke and deployed oxygen masks before discovering a passenger, identified as Serbian national Ljubisa Karović, partially lodged in the missing window. Karović's wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, told the BBC that she and two other passengers held onto his legs for several minutes during the descent.
For the millions of passengers who fly Ryanair annually, the incident represents a rare but physical risk of cabin decompression and structural damage. The NTSB report documents that a single mechanical failure can lead to life-threatening conditions for individuals in specific seats, as seen with Mr. Karović, who was left "seriously injured and in shock." While the flight crew successfully landed the plane with no further injuries reported among the other passengers, the event underscores the critical nature of emergency response training for flight attendants who must manage both mechanical crises and passenger rescues simultaneously.
The findings also carry implications for Boeing and engine manufacturers, as investigators look into why a recently inspected blade failed. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary had previously suggested the cause might be "foreign object damage," but the NTSB's preliminary focus remains on the mechanical failure of the fan blade itself. The investigation is ongoing, and a final report will likely determine if new safety directives are required for this aircraft model or engine type. No specific date for the final report has been set.