A recent preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed alarming details about a Ryanair flight incident that occurred shortly after takeoff from Greece. On July 10, a Boeing 737 en route to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a catastrophic
The injured passenger, identified as 61-year-old
Engine Failure and Investigation Findings
The NTSB's investigation revealed that the engine began exhibiting signs of distress approximately seven and a half minutes after takeoff, with pilots receiving warnings of high vibrations. Just moments later, a loud bang was heard, and the autopilot disengaged. An examination of the engine identified that a fan blade had separated, sending fragments into the aircraft's fuselage and damaging the window and tail. The investigation noted that the remaining piece of the broken blade showed signs of fatigue cracking, a condition that occurs when metal components are subjected to repeated stress. Additionally, eight other fan blades were found to have damage along their leading edges.
In a surprising twist, investigators discovered bird remains, including feathers, within the damaged engine. The NTSB reported that four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine had been documented in the previous year, although earlier inspections had not revealed any damage. The agency has yet to determine if a bird strike contributed to the engine failure during this incident.
Contradictory Statements from Ryanair's CEO
The findings from the NTSB stand in stark contrast to earlier statements made by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who had dismissed reports of a passenger being partially ejected from the aircraft. During a July earnings call, O'Leary claimed that no one had been out of any window and suggested that the engine failure was likely due to foreign-object damage. The NTSB later criticized O'Leary for making public comments about the investigation while it was still ongoing, emphasizing that such statements violate international rules regarding the disclosure of investigative information.
This incident echoes a tragic event from April 2018, when a Southwest Airlines flight experienced a similar engine failure that resulted in the death of a passenger after being partially pulled out of a shattered window. The ongoing investigation into the
