Engine debris shatters Ryanair jet window, passenger nearly sucked out, NTSB reports
Engine fragments broke a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 window shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, pulling a passenger’s head toward the opening before fellow travelers rescued him.
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 departing Thessaloniki suffered a right-engine fan-blade failure, sending broken parts that smashed a passenger window and created a hole in the fuselage. A 61-year-old man seated in row 11 was partially sucked out, sustaining neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns before other travelers pulled him back inside and a doctor on board provided first aid. Flight attendants reported loud vibration, cabin smoke, and the automatic deployment of oxygen masks; passengers used a metal box to temporarily seal the breach.
The plane descended, returned to Thessaloniki, and landed without further incident. NTSB investigators discovered bird remains in the engine, linking the failure to possible bird strikes, and noted four prior suspected strikes on the same engine. The board also rebuked Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary for commenting on the investigation’s focus.
Why it matters
It highlights how engine debris can breach a cabin, prompting safety reviews for commercial airlines.
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