In brief
On 10 July a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered a fan‑blade failure on the right engine, breaking a cabin window and pulling the head and shoulder of Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović outside. Flight attendants reported intense vibrations, a loud bang, smoke and an emergency situation that forced the crew to return to Thessaloniki for a safe landing. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, analysing the incident timeline and considering foreign‑object damage as a potential trigger. Ryanair’s chief has opened further scrutiny into engine maintenance procedures, while the passenger’s wife has expressed the extreme shock of the ordeal. The incident highlights the critical importance of engine integrity and cabin safety in commercial aviation.
Engine Fragment Causes Ryanair Passenger Head Lost in Window
On 10 July a Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki (SKG) to Memmingen (MME) suffered a fan‑blade failure on the right engine shortly after take‑off, breaching a cabin window and pulling the head and right shoulder of Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović out of the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports the incident began when the crew received a “high vibration” alert during climb and reduced engine power, but vibrations returned and a loud bang prompted an emergency declaration and descent back to Thessaloniki.
Flight attendants reported hearing and feeling the vibrations, noticing a small amount of smoke before deploying oxygen masks. One attendant observed passengers searching for help once a part of the cabin interior had crumpled; the damaged window was entirely missing, with the passenger’s head and shoulder stuck in the void.
The NTSB, delegated full investigative authority by Greek authorities, is analysing the engine’s ultrasonic inspections conducted in May, which had found no faults, and is considering foreign‑object damage as a potential cause. Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has opened further scrutiny into engine maintenance procedures.
A related account from Sri Rada’s wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, describes a moment of panic—"If we die, we die together"—as she and other passengers held onto the injured man for several minutes before they could be removed (see If we die, we die together: Wife of man nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane speaks of ordeal).
