In brief
During the climb‑out from Thessaloniki on July 10, a right‑side fan blade tore off a Ryanair aircraft, scattering metal fragments that shattered the rear cabin window. Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović’s head and right shoulder were sucked through the breach, leaving him severely injured. The crew, after receiving a vibration alert, aborted the climb, returned to SKG, and landed safely. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken full control of the investigation, noting that the engine had passed earlier ultrasonic checks. Ryanair’s chief Michael O’Leary hinted that foreign‑object damage might have contributed. The subsisted aircraft was operated by Malta‑Air, Ryanair’s subsidiary.
Engine debris ruptures Ryanair cabin window
On 10 July, a Ryanair flight operating from Thessaloniki to Memmingen lost a fan blade off the right‑hand engine of its 737‑800. The dislodged blade fractured metal fragments that smashed a cabin window, afterwards drawing the head and right shoulder of Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović out of the airplane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report that the crew received a “high vibration” alert during climb‑out. They reduced power, carried out checks, and resumed climb when vibrations subsided. The motor’s thrust then increased again, a loud bang was heard, and the crew declared an emergency, returning to Skopje and landing safely.
Karović was left seriously injured and in shock. His wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, told BBC Serbia that she and two other passengers struggled to hold him for minutes after the incident, while flight attendants documented smoke and oxygen mask deployment.
The NTSB was delegated full authority by Greek authorities and is investigating the engine’s ultrasonic inspections from May, which had shown no fault. Chief Executive Michael O'Leary suggested earlier that foreign‑object damage could have been to blame. Ryanair’s subsidiary Malta Air operated the aircraft.
If we die, we die together: Wife of man nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane speaks of ordeal
