In Greece last month, a Ryanair plane experienced a terrifying incident shortly after takeoff when broken engine parts caused a window to shatter. Due to this, a man’s head was nearly sucked out of the aircraft before quick-thinking passengers managed to pull him back in. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that a fan blade in the Boeing 737-800’s right engine malfunctioned, leading to fragments damaging the window and other parts of the fuselage.
The investigation was handed over to the NTSB by Greek authorities following international aviation protocols. The occurrence took place on July 10 after the flight left Thessaloniki. Investigators discovered bird remnants inside the engine, hinting that the aircraft might have collided with birds during takeoff. However, the exact cause of the fan blade detachment remains unknown at this stage.
The 61-year-old passenger whose head was almost pulled out of the window sustained injuries to his neck, shoulder, and friction burns. Flight attendants reported hearing loud vibrations and witnessing smoke or fog in the cabin, prompting the deployment of emergency oxygen masks. Passengers in Row 11 observed the man being partially stuck in the damaged window and acted swiftly to rescue him.
Subsequent actions involved moving the injured passenger to Row 12 for medical attention and using a metal box to cover the exposed area until landing was possible. Videos taken onboard the plane depicted passengers wearing oxygen masks due to a loss of cabin pressure and emergency responders assisting after the aircraft touched down.
Maintenance records indicated that the fan blades on the faulty engine had passed inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without any issues being identified. Despite this, the NTSB noted that there had been four reported bird strikes on the same engine over the past year, with bird remains found after two incidents. Experts suggested that the maintenance procedures were adhered to as scheduled, but further scrutiny would focus on how these inspections were carried out and whether previous bird strikes had contributed to underlying damage.
Ryanair refrained from providing additional comments pending the completion of the NTSB’s investigation, while Boeing and CFM International pledged their cooperation. Last year, the FAA issued directives mandating enhancements to engine coverings on Boeing 737s following previous fan blade failures. These alterations aim to prevent engine covering pieces from detaching if a fan blade malfunctions, with airlines required to complete the modifications by July 2028.
Considering the recent incident’s implications, industry experts anticipate a potential reassessment of the modification deadline by the FAA and NTSB. The FAA declined to elaborate on the ongoing inquiry but emphasized its commitment to ensuring aviation safety based on available evidence. The aircraft involved, a Ryanair-operated 737-800 delivered in 2008, successfully landed back in Thessaloniki after the harrowing ordeal.