A Ryanair aircraft experienced a terrifying incident last month when a broken fan blade in its right engine shattered a window shortly after takeoff in Greece. The shattered window caused a man’s head to be sucked towards the opening before fellow passengers managed to pull him back inside the plane. According to a preliminary report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the fan blade detachment resulted in fragments damaging the window and other parts of the fuselage.
The event occurred on July 10 after the flight departed from Thessaloniki, Greece. Investigators discovered bird remains inside the engine, indicating a possible bird strike during takeoff. The 61-year-old passenger whose head was pulled towards the broken window sustained neck and shoulder injuries along with friction burns.
Flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and observing smoke or fog filling the cabin, prompting the deployment of emergency oxygen masks. Passengers assisted in pulling the man back inside the cabin and attempted to block the damaged window using a metal box until the plane could land safely.
Maintenance records revealed that the fan blades on the failed engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without any prior damage findings. However, the NTSB noted that flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes on the same engine within the past year, finding bird remnants after two incidents.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary faced criticism from the NTSB for prematurely focusing on foreign object damage in the investigation. The agency emphasized that all possibilities were being considered, and O’Leary’s comments were unauthorized.
The FAA issued directives in 2025 requiring airlines to strengthen engine coverings on Boeing 737s to prevent pieces from detaching in case of fan blade failures. Although the modifications were mandated to be completed by July 2028, the NTSB report indicated that the required changes had not been made to the Ryanair aircraft involved in the incident.
The FAA and NTSB are likely to reassess the deadline for these modifications following the recent accident. They will continue to investigate the incident to determine necessary safety actions and potential adjustments to industry regulations. The flight involved was operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair, and landed safely back in Thessaloniki after the incident.