- The aircraft was climbing through 16,000 feet when pilots received a high-vibration alert from the right engine; vibration increased, a loud bang was heard, and cabin pressure was lost.
- Engine fragments struck the fuselage and penetrated the cabin, shattering the window at row 11.
- A doctor on board treated the passenger as the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki; passengers also used a metal box from the galley to block the opening.
- NTSB traced the damage to the blade root, finding signs of high-amplitude fatigue caused by repeated stress.
The NTSB's preliminary report revealed that a Ryanair flight experienced a catastrophic engine failure on July 10, when a fan blade fractured, sending debris into the cabin and shattering a window. The incident occurred on a Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.45
As the aircraft climbed through 16,000 feet (4,877 meters), pilots received a high-vibration alert from the right engine. The vibration escalated rapidly, culminating in a loud bang and a loss of cabin pressure. Fragments from the engine struck the fuselage, penetrating the cabin and shattering a window at row 11.123
A flight attendant responded to the chaos and found a 61-year-old passenger in seat 11F partially lodged in the window opening. Passengers managed to pull him back into the cabin, where he suffered neck and shoulder injuries along with friction burns. A doctor on board provided treatment as the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki.
Passengers attempted to block the opening with a metal box from the galley. Investigators discovered feathers and bird remains in the engine, but the NTSB has not determined if a bird strike caused the blade failure. Maintenance records indicate the engine had been involved in four suspected bird strikes over the previous year, with remains found after two incidents. The engine's fan blades underwent ultrasonic inspections in November 2025 and May 2026, revealing no damage detected.
“The incident occurred as the aircraft climbed through 16,000 feet, with a high-vibration alert preceding a loud bang and cabin pressure loss. Fragments penetrated the cabin at row 11, and a doctor treated the passenger as the plane returned to Thessaloniki.”
