NTSB Says Engine Blade Failure Shattered Ryanair Window in July Flight

A failed fan blade in the right engine of a Ryanair-operated Boeing 737-800 sent debris through a cabin window during a July 10 flight from Greece to Germany, according to preliminary findings from the US National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft, operated by Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air as flight FR1879, was climbing after departure from Thessaloniki when the crew received a high-vibration alert. Investigators said the vibration briefly eased after the pilots reduced engine power, then intensified before a loud bang and cabin depressurization. The pilots declared an emergency and returned to Thessaloniki, landing without further incident.

A 61-year-old passenger seated beside the damaged window had his head and right arm pulled partly outside the aircraft, according to reporting cited by the two source records. Other passengers held him and brought him back into the cabin. The aircraft carried 149 passengers and four flight attendants.

The preliminary report said crews had recorded four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine in the preceding 12 months, with bird remains reported in two cases. It also said recent ultrasonic inspections of the fan blades had produced no findings. The NTSB is handling the investigation after Greek authorities delegated it; the preliminary findings do not constitute a final determination of cause.