NTSB Links Ryanair Near-Ejection Incident To 737 Engine Failure
NTSB says bird remains and a broken fan blade caused an engine failure on July 10 after takeoff from Thessaloniki that blew out a window and nearly sucked a passenger from a Ryanair plane.[1]
Flight 1879 carried 149 passengers and six crew and returned to Thessaloniki after the failure; no other occupants were hurt.[1]
On July 10 the plane's No. 2 engine failed minutes after takeoff on a flight to Memmingen, Germany.[1] Debris from the failed fan blade pierced the fuselage and blew out the row 11 window, partially ejecting the seat 11F passenger, who sustained serious injuries.[1]
The NTSB's preliminary report, issued Aug. 13, cited evidence of bird remains in the engine, metal fatigue on the failed fan blade and the absence of U.S.-required engine updates.[1] The same airplane had four reported bird strikes in the prior 12 months, with bird remains confirmed in two earlier events.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- On July 10, 2026, Ryanair Flight 1879’s No. 2 engine failed minutes after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece, on a flight to Memmingen, Germany.
- Engine fan blade debris pierced the fuselage and blew out the row 11 window, partially ejecting the seat 11F passenger, who sustained serious injuries.
- NTSB’s August 13, 2026 preliminary report cites evidence of bird remains in the engine, metal fatigue on the failed fan blade, and absence of U.S.-required engine updates on the aircraft.
- The Boeing 737 carried 149 passengers and six crew and returned to Thessaloniki; no other occupants were hurt.
- The same airplane had four reported bird strikes in the 12 months before the incident, with bird remains confirmed in two prior events.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time