Broken engine parts shattered the Ryanair plane window that a passenger's head got sucked into: NTSB

Key Points:

• A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 experienced a fan blade failure in its right engine shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece, on July 10, causing engine fragments to break a window and nearly suck a 61-year-old male passenger partially out of the plane.
• Passengers and crew quickly intervened to pull the man back inside; he sustained neck, shoulder injuries, and friction burns, and was treated onboard by a doctor before the plane returned safely to Thessaloniki.
• Investigators found bird remains in the engine, indicating possible bird strikes during takeoff, but the exact cause of the fan blade failure remains undetermined; maintenance records showed recent inspections without damage detected.
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation with Greek authorities, and has cautioned Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary against prematurely commenting on the cause, emphasizing that no conclusions have been reached.
• This incident follows previous similar engine failures involving CFM International engines, including fatal and serious events on Southwest Airlines flights, highlighting ongoing safety concerns related to engine blade failures.