A serious aviation incident involving a Ryanair flight in Greece was caused by broken engine components that shattered a passenger window, resulting in a man being partially pulled through the opening, according to a preliminary report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The incident occurred on July 10, 2026, shortly after the Boeing 737-800 departed Thessaloniki, Greece. Investigators found that a fan blade inside the aircraft’s right engine had broken apart, sending fragments through the engine housing and into the fuselage. One of the fragments shattered a cabin window and contributed to a rapid loss of cabin pressure.
The 61-year-old passenger, who was seated near the damaged window, was partially pulled through the opening. Fellow passengers quickly intervened and managed to pull him back into the cabin. He suffered neck and shoulder injuries as well as friction burns and was treated by a doctor who was travelling on the flight.
Passengers and crew members reported hearing loud vibrations and a bang before smoke or fog appeared inside the cabin. Oxygen masks were subsequently released as the aircraft experienced depressurization.
Investigators also discovered bird remains inside the affected engine. Records showed that the same engine had experienced four suspected bird strikes during the previous year, with bird remains confirmed in two of those incidents. However, the NTSB has not yet determined whether a bird strike caused the fan blade to break.
The aircraft was operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary. Despite the serious incident, the pilots were able to return the aircraft safely to Thessaloniki approximately an hour after departure.
The investigation is continuing, with authorities examining the engine failure, previous bird strikes, maintenance procedures and the aircraft’s protection against debris from a failed fan blade.
The incident has also renewed attention on aviation safety measures introduced after earlier cases involving engine debris damaging aircraft fuselages and windows. The Federal Aviation Administration had ordered modifications to strengthen parts of Boeing 737 engine coverings, but the NTSB report indicates that the required modifications had not yet been completed on the Ryanair aircraft. The deadline for those major modifications is currently July 2028.
Ryanair, Boeing and the engine manufacturer are cooperating with investigators. Officials have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that no final conclusion has yet been reached regarding the precise cause of the fan blade failure.
Swifteradio.com
