A preliminary NTSB report has found that a broken engine fan blade shattered a window on a Ryanair flight in July, causing a passenger to be partly sucked out mid-flight.
Key facts
- An engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff, according to the NTSB.
- The incident occurred on a 10 July flight from Greece to Germany.
- Debris shattered a window and damaged the fuselage, partly sucking out a passenger.
- Flight crews had recorded four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine in the previous year.
Broken engine parts were responsible for shattering a window on a Ryanair plane, causing a passenger to be partly sucked out mid-flight in July, US investigators have said, according to the Guardian.
A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that an engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff on the 10 July flight from Greece to Germany. The break shattered the window and damaged the fuselage, the report said.
The incident left a passenger partly sucked out of the aircraft, according to the Guardian’s account of the preliminary findings.
Al Jazeera reported that flight crews had recorded four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine during the previous year, a detail noted in connection with the investigation.
The NTSB findings are described as preliminary, meaning investigators may continue to examine the circumstances that led to the fan blade breaking off and the subsequent damage to the aircraft.
The available reporting from Al Jazeera and the Guardian does not detail the outcome for the passenger or any further actions taken by the airline or regulators.
Why it matters
Structural failures involving engine components mid-flight are rare but serious events that can endanger passengers, as this incident shows. The NTSB's findings may prompt closer scrutiny of engine maintenance and prior bird strike records on the aircraft involved.
Frequently asked questions
What caused the Ryanair window to shatter?
According to the NTSB preliminary report cited by the Guardian, an engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff, shattering the window and damaging the fuselage.
When and where did the incident happen?
The incident occurred on a 10 July flight from Greece to Germany.
Was there any prior warning involving the engine?
Al Jazeera reported that flight crews had recorded four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine during the previous year.