An engine malfunction on a Ryanair aircraft caused a window to shatter just after takeoff in Greece last month, resulting in a passenger’s head being drawn out of the opening before being rescued by fellow travelers, according to U.S. investigators’ findings released on Thursday.
The incident, involving a Boeing 737-800, occurred when a fan blade from the right engine dislodged, leading to fragments damaging the window and other parts of the fuselage, as outlined in a preliminary report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Following international aviation regulations, Greece transferred the investigation to the U.S. agency. The occurrence took place on July 10 after the aircraft departed from Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Investigators discovered bird remnants inside the engine, hinting that bird strikes might have occurred during takeoff, although the exact cause of the fan blade detachment remains undetermined.
The 61-year-old passenger whose head was pulled through the damaged window sustained injuries to the neck, shoulder, and friction burns.
Flight attendants reported hearing loud, continuous vibrations and observing smoke or fog filling the cabin before the deployment of the plane’s emergency oxygen masks.
One of the cabin crew members recalled seeing some passengers standing and seeking help. The passenger seated by the damaged window in Row 11 was found partially lodged outside, but was successfully pulled back inside by other passengers, as per the investigators’ statements.
After being moved to Row 12 for medical attention from a doctor, the injured passenger was assisted by fellow passengers who used a metal box to cover the opening until the aircraft could land, according to the investigation.
Several short videos filmed inside the plane and shared by Radio Thessaloniki displayed passengers wearing oxygen masks after the cabin experienced pressure loss. Another video depicted the shattered window, with a nearby passenger wearing an oxygen mask. A third video, presumably taken after landing, showed first responders in action in the aisle.
Fan blades had undergone inspections
Maintenance logs revealed that the fan blades in the malfunctioning engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May 2026 and November 2025, with no signs of damage reported.
However, the NTSB noted that flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes on the same engine within the past year, with bird remains discovered following two of the incidents.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA investigator who reviewed the initial report, indicated that the prescribed maintenance procedures seemed to have been followed as scheduled. Nevertheless, investigators will likely scrutinize the inspection processes and assess whether the previous bird strikes contributed to any pre-existing damage.
“We understand what occurred and to some extent why it happened, but there are still unanswered questions that the NTSB will address,” Guzzetti mentioned.
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