Engine Failure Nearly Sucked Passenger Out of Ryanair Flight

A preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that a broken engine fan blade caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair flight, nearly sucking a passenger out of the aircraft. The incident occurred on July 10 during a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany. The NTSB determined that a blade from the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 broke off shortly after takeoff, striking the fuselage and causing a loss of cabin pressure.

Ljubisa Karovic, a 61 year old Serbian entrepreneur, had his head and right arm sucked out of the broken window before other passengers pulled him back inside. Karovic was treated in a hospital for injuries including abrasions and pain in his head and neck. The flight crew reported experiencing high vibrations and a loud bang before declaring an emergency and returning to Thessaloniki for a successful landing.

Investigators discovered bird remains in the damaged engine. While the NTSB noted that the plane had experienced four bird strikes in the previous year, it has not yet concluded if a bird was directly responsible for the blade failure. The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May that found no faults. Boeing and the engine manufacturer, CFM, are assisting in the investigation, which could take up to two years to complete. Ryanair has declined to comment on compensation or the preliminary findings until the final report is released.