Ryanair Pilot Blames Engine Failure After Engine Components Damage Cabin Window, Report Details

Broken engine fragments damaged a cabin window of a Ryanair aircraft last month, causing a passenger’s head and right shoulder to be pulled into the hole, according to US investigators.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported this occurred shortly after takeoff on a July 10 flight from Greece to Germany, when an engine fan blade broke.

Serbian national Ljubisa Karović sustained serious injuries as his head and right shoulder were sucked out of the window during the incident.

His wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, later stated she and two other passengers supported him by holding onto his legs for several minutes.

The NTSB detailed that the flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen experienced a No. 2 (right) engine fan-blade-out (FBO) failure during climb-out.

The crew decided to return to SKG (Thessaloniki International Airport) for an uneventful landing.

The investigation, led by the NTSB under Greek authorities, included a timeline from the flight crew, who reported “high vibration” engine alerts during climb. They reduced engine power, performed checks, and resumed ascent on autopilot when vibrations subsided.

However, vibrations increased, followed by a loud bang, prompting an emergency declaration and descent.

Flight attendants observed vibrations, smoke, and deployed oxygen masks. One attendant noted passengers seeking help after a passenger became “partially lodged in a damaged window,” with the entire window missing.

The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May with no detected issues. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary speculated the cause could be “foreign object damage” to the engine.

The aircraft was operated by Ryanair’s subsidiary Malta Air.

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