US Probe: Broken Engine Part Shattered Ryanair Window, Nearly Sucking Passenger Out

A Ryanair flight experienced a rapid decompression on July 10, 2026, when a broken engine part shattered a cabin window, causing a passenger’s head and shoulders to be partially sucked outside, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited by the BBC.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air, was flying from Greece to Germany at an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet when the incident occurred, according to CNN Greece and BBC reports. The flight had departed from Thessaloniki at 5:55 a.m. heading to Memmingen, near Munich, according to Agence France Presse and Agence France Presse reporting published by the New York Post.

According to the NTSB report cited by the BBC, the flight experienced a failure in its right-hand engine involving a broken fan blade during the climb. The flight crew received a high-altitude vibration alert, reduced power, and ran checks. When vibrations stopped, they continued the climb on autopilot before a loud bang prompted them to declare an emergency and descend, the report stated.

Passengers described hearing a noise resembling a tire bursting as oxygen masks dropped and a strong smell filled the cabin, according to accounts reported by Radio Thessaloniki and Agence France Presse. Flight attendants reported seeing a small amount of smoke and noticing passengers calling for help after a window shattered completely, the NTSB report noted.

Passenger Rescue and Injuries on Board

The 61-year-old Serbian passenger, identified in reports as Ljubisa Karović, had his head and right shoulder sucked out of the missing window while his seatbelt remained fastened, according to BBC and New York Post coverage. His wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, told BBC Serbia that she and two other travelers held onto his legs for several minutes.

Michalis Giannakos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees in Greece, told reporters that fellow passengers pinned the traveler in his seat and his wife held him down for five minutes to keep him inside the cabin, as reported by Enikos and the New York Post.

The aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki International Airport, where it made an uneventful landing, according to the NTSB and Ryanair statements. Passengers were transferred to a replacement flight to continue their journey to Germany, according to the New York Post.

Mr. Karović was treated on the ground for friction burns and shock, according to hospital federation and BBC reports. A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to the New York Post that the flight returned shortly after takeoff due to a dislodged passenger window and that one traveler requested medical assistance on the ground.

Investigation Details and Prior Engine Inspections

The NTSB was delegated the investigation in full by Greek authorities following the July 10 incident, according to the BBC. Investigators noted in their preliminary findings that the engine involved had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 with no faults found.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary previously suggested that the incident may have been caused by foreign object damage to the engine, according to BBC reporting. The NTSB investigation remains ongoing to determine the exact mechanical factors that led to the fan blade failure and subsequent window breach.