Engine fragments caused Ryanair flight to lose pressure

A Ryanair aircraft made an emergency landing in Thessaloniki, Greece due to engine fragments causing a window to break, trapping a man mid-flight. According to a preliminary U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report published on Thursday, the incident occurred on July 16 when a tourist was flying from Thessaloniki in Greece to Memmingen in Germany.

During the ascent, a blade from the right engine fan broke off and struck a window in the cabin, breaching the fuselage and leading to a rapid depressurization of the aircraft. A flight attendant observed that a passenger was partially lodged in the damaged window, with the entire window missing. The passenger sustained serious injuries as a result of the incident.

An NTSB investigator mentioned that bird remains were found inside the engine, but no conclusions were drawn regarding the cause of the fan blade breakage. A passenger recounted to Radio Thessaloniki that they heard a noise like a tire bursting, realizing immediately that there had been a decompression. Some passengers screamed, briefly fearing someone had opened the emergency door.

The NTSB's full investigation into the matter, which can last up to two years, is ongoing, and a final report is still pending.