Ryanair window was shattered by engine part before man was nearly sucked out of plane
- An NTSB investigation revealed that a fractured engine fan blade shattered an airplane window on a July 10 Ryanair flight shortly after departing Thessaloniki, Greece, causing cabin decompression.
- The sudden decompression caused a 61-year-old passenger to be partially pulled into the broken window opening before fellow travelers successfully hauled him back into the Boeing 737-800 cabin.
- The passenger sustained friction burns as well as neck and shoulder injuries, receiving immediate medical treatment from a doctor on board before the aircraft safely returned to Thessaloniki.
- Federal investigators discovered bird remains inside the engine assembly, noting that the same engine had four reported suspected bird strikes over the preceding 12 months.
- The NTSB publicly reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary for making unauthorized public statements to investors regarding the scope and focus of the active safety inquiry.
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