Ryanair flight suffers window shattering incident due to engine failure

On July 10, 2026, a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a severe incident shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 737-800, operated by Malta Air, was climbing through 16,000 feet when a fan blade in the right engine broke free, sending debris into the cabin and shattering a window. This caused a 61-year-old passenger, Ljubisa Karovic, to be partially sucked out of the aircraft. Fellow passengers and a flight attendant managed to pull him back inside, but he sustained significant injuries, including neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. The cabin lost pressure, prompting oxygen masks to deploy, and the pilots were forced to return to Thessaloniki for an emergency landing.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later examined the engine and found bird remains, suggesting that the aircraft may have struck birds during takeoff. However, they have not yet determined the exact cause of the fan blade failure. The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that about 37 percent of the fracture surface on the failed blade showed signs of metal fatigue, particularly near the root of the blade. This incident raised concerns about the maintenance and inspection protocols for the aircraft, especially since the engine had been involved in four suspected bird strikes in the previous year.

The NTSB has stated that the investigation is ongoing, and they will examine how the inspections were conducted and whether the previous bird strikes contributed to any preexisting damage. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, faced criticism for prematurely commenting on the investigation, which is against international aviation rules. The incident has drawn attention to the safety measures in place for commercial flights and the potential risks associated with bird strikes.

The aircraft, which was delivered new to Ryanair in 2008, landed safely back in Thessaloniki, and passengers were able to return to the terminal. This incident is reminiscent of previous cases where engine failures led to serious accidents, including a tragic event in 2018 when a woman was killed after being partially sucked out of a broken window on a Southwest Airlines flight. The NTSB's findings will likely influence future safety regulations and maintenance practices in the aviation industry.