Ryanair window that passenger was partly sucked out of was broken by engine debris, report finds

Engine Debris Caused Window Failure on Ryanair Flight, NTSB Preliminary Report Reveals

Wanderstayfinder.com – A Serbian entrepreneur survived a harrowing mid-air incident when broken engine components shattered a passenger window on a Ryanair aircraft, partially ejecting him from the cabin during a July flight. The National Transportation Safety Board has released its initial findings, identifying the root cause of the dramatic event that unfolded on July 10.

Ljubisa Karović, a 61-year-old businessman from Serbia, was seated in position 11F when the catastrophe occurred. As the aircraft climbed toward its destination in Germany, a fan blade detached from the right engine, creating debris that struck and fractured the window. Karović’s head and right arm were pulled outward through the broken glass before fellow passengers managed to secure him and prevent complete ejection.

Flight Details and Immediate Aftermath

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, Ryanair’s subsidiary, was carrying 149 passengers and four flight attendants when the incident occurred. The flight was scheduled to travel from Thessaloniki’s international airport, designated SKG, to Memmingen, a city located near Munich in southern Germany.

Following the window failure, cabin depressurization prompted the two pilots to execute an emergency return to Thessaloniki. The aircraft completed a smooth landing without further complications. Greek aviation authorities subsequently delegated full investigative authority to the NTSB, allowing American officials to lead the examination of what transpired.

“It could have been the seatbelt, the fact that I was still strapped in. But maybe it is fate. I believe in God and I thank him every day,” Karović told reporters less than two weeks after the incident, describing his limited recollection of the event and noting persistent pain in his head and neck.

Crew Response and Investigation Findings

The NTSB’s preliminary report outlines a detailed sequence of events as the flight crew responded to escalating engine problems. Initially, the pilots received a high-vibration alert during the climb phase and reduced engine power accordingly. After conducting several diagnostic checks, vibrations subsided temporarily, allowing the crew to resume climbing on autopilot.

However, engine vibrations soon intensified dramatically, accompanied by a loud bang that signaled the catastrophic failure. The flight crew immediately donned oxygen masks, declared an emergency, and initiated a rapid descent. Flight attendants later reported hearing and feeling continuous loud vibrations, observing a small amount of fog or smoke before the oxygen masks deployed.

“The flight experienced a No 2 (right) engine fan-blade-out (FBO) failure during climb out from the Thessaloniki international airport (SKG),” the NTSB stated in its preliminary findings.

Bird Strikes and Maintenance Records

Investigators uncovered that the aircraft’s right engine had experienced four bird strikes within the twelve months preceding the incident. In two of those cases, bird remains were discovered inside the engine. Despite these encounters, ultrasonic inspections of the fan blades conducted in recent months revealed no abnormalities.

Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration investigator who reviewed the preliminary report, noted that maintenance appeared to have been performed according to schedule. However, he emphasized that investigators would need to examine how previous inspections were conducted and whether the suspected bird strikes may have contributed to pre-existing damage that ultimately led to the fan blade failure.

“We know what happened and even to some extent why it happened, but there’s still unanswered questions that the NTSB will get at,” Guzzetti explained to the Associated Press.

Broader Safety Implications

The incident carries significant implications for aviation safety, particularly regarding Boeing 737 aircraft. In 2025, the FAA issued three directives requiring airlines to reinforce engine coverings on Boeing 737 planes following two previous fan blade failures that sent engine components flying through the cabin.

One of those earlier incidents resulted in a passenger fatality aboard a Southwest Airlines aircraft in 2018, when debris struck and broke a window. The FAA established a July 2028 deadline for airlines to complete the required modifications. According to the NTSB report, the Ryanair aircraft involved in this incident had not yet undergone these modifications.

Boeing and CFM International, the engine manufacturer, are both assisting with the ongoing investigation. Ryanair’s finance chief indicated last month that it was premature to discuss potential compensation for Karović and his wife, Svetlana, while the investigation remains active. The airline has declined to comment on the preliminary report or address compensation matters until the final report is published.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of engine maintenance protocols and bird strike prevention measures across the aviation industry. Passengers and industry observers alike are watching closely as investigators work to determine whether the combination of previous bird strikes and incomplete modifications played a role in this dramatic mid-air event.