Engine fan blades broke on a Ryanair flight, shattering a window and nearly pulling a passenger’s head and shoulder out of the aircraft.
Investigators report the event occurred on 10 July during the climb from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, after the right‑engine suffered a fan‑blade‑out failure. The crew reduced power, performed checks, and continued the climb once vibrations subsided, only to hear a loud bang that triggered an emergency descent.
The moments after the failure were chaotic: fire alarms sounded, small amounts of smoke were seen, and oxygen masks were deployed. Passengers reported a small window gap that grew as the damage progressed, and tallied that a passenger was partially lodged within the resultant opening.
Bundled eyewitness accounts describe the Norwegian‑born rescue efforts of the passenger’s wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, and two others who held the survivor’s legs for several minutes. He was rendered seriously injured and in shock thereafter.
While ultrasonic inspections in May found no engine faults, the NTSB is exploring potential foreign‑object damage as a catalyst for the failure. The Greek authorities have delegated full investigative authority to the U.S. board.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O'Leary remarked the possibility that a foreign object might have triggered the engine failure, suggesting a broader safety review. The involved aircraft was operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air.
For further reading: ‘If we die, we die together’: Wife of man nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane speaks of ordeal (published 14 July).
