NTSB Preliminary Report Ties Ryanair Near-Ejection To Fan-Blade Failure And Uncompleted 737 Engine Fixes
The National Transportation Safety Board says a fan blade broke in a Boeing 737-800 on July 10, 2026, sending engine fragments that shattered a cabin window and nearly sucked a passenger out over Thessaloniki.[1]
Investigators found bird remains inside the failed engine and say flight crews logged four suspected bird strikes to that engine in the prior year, with remains confirmed in two events.[1] Maintenance records show ultrasonic inspections of the right-engine fan blades in Nov. 2025 and May 2026 reported no damage, but the NTSB will examine how the inspections were done and whether earlier strikes contributed.[1] The plane was a Ryanair jet operated by Malta Air and was delivered new in 2008.[1]
The Federal Aviation Administration issued three directives effective April 2025 requiring structural changes to Boeing 737 engine inlet coverings to better contain debris from fan-blade failures, but airlines have until July 2028 to comply.[1] Crew reported loud, continuous vibration, smoke or fog in the cabin, falling oxygen masks, and then a 61-year-old passenger partly lodged in the row 11 window before others pulled him back.[1] Passengers used a metal box from flight attendants to help block the broken window opening while a doctor on board treated the injured man.[1] Pilots descended to about 6,000 feet to burn fuel and returned to Thessaloniki roughly one hour after takeoff.[1]
The NTSB recently rebuked Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for telling investors the probe was focused on foreign-object damage, saying investigators had not ruled out other causes and he was not authorized to characterize the investigation.[1] Former NTSB/FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti said the July 10 event could prompt regulators to re-evaluate the July 2028 deadline for the inlet modifications.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The NTSB preliminary report says that on July 10, 2026 a fan blade in the Boeing 737-800's right engine broke loose and engine fragments shattered the row 11 window and damaged the fuselage in several locations.
- Investigators found bird remains inside the failed engine and report that flight crews had logged four suspected bird strikes to that engine in the prior year, with remains confirmed in two events.
- Maintenance records show the right-engine fan blades had ultrasonic inspections in November 2025 and May 2026 with no damage reported; the NTSB says it will examine how those inspections were conducted and whether earlier bird strikes contributed to preexisting damage.
- The cabin crew reported loud, continuous vibration, smoke or fog in the cabin and falling oxygen masks, then saw a 61-year-old passenger partially lodged in the row 11 window before other passengers pulled him back; he suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.
- Passengers used a metal box from flight attendants to help block the broken window opening while a doctor on board treated the injured man; pilots descended to about 6,000 feet to burn fuel for roughly 30 minutes and the flight returned to Thessaloniki about one hour after takeoff.
- The FAA issued three directives effective April 2025 requiring structural changes to Boeing 737 engine inlet coverings to better contain debris from fan-blade failures, but the Ryanair 737-800 had not yet received those modifications because airlines have until July 2028 to comply.
- The NTSB recently reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for telling investors the probe was focused on foreign-object damage, saying investigators had not ruled out other factors and he was not authorized to characterize the ongoing investigation; former NTSB/FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti said the July 10 event could prompt regulators to re-evaluate the July 2028 compliance deadline.
- The aircraft — operated by Malta Air and delivered new to Ryanair in 2008 — climbed to about 15,000 feet six minutes after departing Thessaloniki before pilots descended and returned to land uneventfully at Thessaloniki.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- The NTSB preliminary report, released by August 14, 2026, finds that on July 10, 2026 a fan blade in the Boeing 737-800's right engine broke loose, and engine fragments shattered the row 11 window and damaged the fuselage in several locations.
- Investigators found bird remains inside the failed engine and note that flight crews had reported four suspected bird strikes to that same engine in the prior year, with bird remains confirmed in two of those events.
- Maintenance records show the right-engine fan blades received ultrasonic inspections in November 2025 and May 2026 with no damage reported, but the NTSB says it will examine how those inspections were conducted and whether earlier bird strikes contributed to preexisting damage.
- Cabin crew reported loud, continuous vibration, smoke or fog in the cabin, falling oxygen masks, and then seeing the 61-year-old passenger at the row 11 window partially lodged in the opening before other passengers pulled him back; the passenger suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.
- Passengers used a metal box from flight attendants to help block the broken window opening while a doctor on board treated the injured man and the pilots descended to about 6,000 feet to burn fuel before returning to Thessaloniki roughly one hour after takeoff.
- The FAA issued three directives effective April 2025 requiring structural changes to Boeing 737 engine inlet coverings to better contain debris from fan-blade failures, but the Ryanair 737-800 had not yet received those modifications because airlines have until July 2028 to comply.
- The NTSB recently reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for telling investors the probe was focused on foreign-object damage, saying investigators had not ruled out other factors and that he was not authorized to characterize the ongoing investigation.
- The aircraft, delivered new to Ryanair in 2008 and operated by Malta Air, climbed to about 15,000 feet six minutes after departure from Thessaloniki before descending to 6,000 feet to burn fuel for about 30 minutes and then landed uneventfully back at Thessaloniki.
- Former NTSB/FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti told reporters the July 10 event could prompt FAA and NTSB to re-evaluate the July 2028 deadline for completing the engine-cover modifications on 737s.