Engine parts smashed Ryanair window that man's head was sucked out of, report says

Engine fragments breach Ryanair window, sucking passenger’s head and shoulder outward, NTSB reports The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report stating that debris from a failed engine fan blade struck a cabin window on a Ryanair flight, pulling a passenger’s head and shoulder through the opening. The event took place on 10 July during climb from Thessaloniki to Memmingen. According to the NTSB, the aircraft suffered a No. 2 (right) motor fan‑blade‑out (FBO) occurrence shortly after takeoff. The crew received a high‑vibration alert, reduced engine power and performed checks. When the vibration subsided, they resumed ascent on autopilot, but vibrations increased again and a loud bang prompted an emergency declaration and descent. Flight attendants felt the vibrations, observed a small amount of smoke and saw oxygen masks deploy. One attendant reported seeing a passenger “partially lodged in a damaged cabin window” with the window pane missing. The NTSB said the timeline supplied by the flight crew matched these observations. The aircraft diverted and landed uneventfully at Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG). Ljubisa Karović, a Serbian national, sustained serious injuries when his head and shoulder were sucked through the broken window. His woman Svetlana Grković Maksimović aboriginal told BBC Serbia that she and 2 different passengers held onto his legs for respective minutes. The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May with no faults detected. Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary previously suggested the damage might have resulted from foreign‑object impact on the engine. The flight was operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary. Greek authorities have delegated full investigative responsibility to the NTSB. Read the full story at BBC News →