Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said an initial assessment of a serious window incident involving one of the airline’s flights suggests foreign object damage may have affected the aircraft’s engine during takeoff. O’Leary stressed that the cause has not been determined definitively and said investigators are expected to release a preliminary report within about 28 days, followed by a more detailed assessment.
The incident occurred on July 10 aboard a Malta Air-operated Boeing 737-800 traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, part of the right engine reportedly broke away and struck a passenger window, causing it to dislodge and triggering rapid cabin decompression. Oxygen masks were deployed, and the pilots returned to Thessaloniki for an emergency landing.
A 61-year-old Serbian passenger, Ljubisa Karovic, was partially pulled through the damaged window during the decompression. His seatbelt prevented him from being completely ejected, while his wife and other passengers helped pull him back into the cabin. He sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital following the emergency landing. The incident has placed renewed attention on the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened even when the seatbelt sign is not illuminated.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation after Greek authorities delegated responsibility for the probe. The Federal Aviation Administration and European aviation authorities are also involved. Investigators will need to determine whether the engine damage was caused by debris entering the engine, an internal component failure, or another event during takeoff.
For Ryanair, the preliminary explanation may reduce concerns that the incident resulted from the aircraft’s age or routine maintenance. However, no final conclusion can be reached until investigators complete their examination of the engine, window assembly, maintenance records, and debris recovered from the aircraft.
