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Ryanair engine failure: Broken blade shattered window, pulled passenger partly outside over Greece
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Ryanair engine failure: Broken blade shattered window, pulled passenger partly outside over Greece

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Ryanair flight experienced a critical incident when an engine fan blade broke off mid-flight over Greece.
  • Fragments from the engine struck and broke a passenger window, causing a man's head to be pulled towards the opening before he was rescued by fellow passengers.
  • Investigators are examining the engine, with initial findings suggesting a possible bird strike during takeoff.

A Ryanair flight operating in Greece encountered a terrifying mid-air emergency when a piece of an engine detached, striking and breaking a passenger window. The incident, which occurred on July 10 shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, saw a man's head partially pulled out of the aircraft before other passengers managed to pull him back to safety.

The broken fan blade that was ejected from the engine caused damage not only to the window but also to many parts of the aircraft's fuselage.

— National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)Describing the damage caused by the detached engine part.

According to a report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the broken fan blade ejected from the engine caused significant damage not only to the window but also to multiple areas of the aircraft's fuselage. The NTSB identified remnants of birds within the engine, indicating a potential bird strike during the takeoff phase.

Following the window rupture and subsequent cabin depressurization, oxygen masks deployed. Passengers described hearing a loud bang, the deployment of masks, and the aircraft beginning to lose altitude. Panic ensued onboard, with some passengers screaming as the man was partially sucked out of the broken window. The 61-year-old man sustained injuries to his neck and shoulder, along with friction burns.

Passengers reported to the Greek media that they heard a loud bang, the oxygen masks fell, and the plane began to lose altitude.

— Unnamed passengersRecounting the moments after the engine failure.

Ryanair stated the flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after departure due to the detached window. However, the NTSB noted that the aircraft experienced issues with its right engine during the flight. The NTSB has been authorized to investigate the incident, with Greece's Hellenic National Aviation and Railway Accidents and Safety Board's participation. The NTSB also reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for comments suggesting the investigation focused on foreign object damage rather than the aircraft's age or maintenance history, stating that no possibilities had been ruled out and O'Leary lacked authorization to comment.

The flight returned to Thessaloniki shortly after takeoff when a passenger window detached in flight.

— RyanairRyanair's official statement on the incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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