NTSB Report Finds Engine Debris Shattered Ryanair Plane Window in Greece

A fan blade from the right engine of a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 separated during takeoff from Thessaloniki on July 10, sending debris through the fuselage and breaking a cabin window. The incident forced a passenger’s head through the opening, resulting in neck, shoulder injuries and friction burns. Flight attendants reported loud vibrations, smoke or fog in the cabin, and the deployment of oxygen masks before passengers helped pull the man back inside.

Investigators found bird remains inside the engine, indicating a possible bird strike, though the exact cause of the blade failure has not been determined. Maintenance records show the fan blades underwent ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025 without detecting damage. The NTSB noted four suspected bird strikes to the same engine in the past year, with bird remains recovered after two of those events.

International aviation protocols allowed Greece’s Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority to transfer the investigation to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, with Greek participation. The NTSB cautioned Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for commenting that the probe was limited to foreign-object damage, stating that investigators have not excluded other factors such as aircraft age or maintenance history.