A jet engine fan blade cut into a plane and caused a passenger to be partially sucked out of a window

On July 10, 2026, a Ryanair Boeing 737 traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a critical in-flight emergency when a jet engine fan blade fractured and struck the aircraft. This impact caused a passenger window to shatter, partially pulling a 61-year-old man, Ljubisa Karovic, from the plane. The incident occurred less than ten minutes after takeoff, with the crew having received prior warnings about high engine vibrations before a loud bang signified the blade's separation.

Following the rupture, the passenger was pulled back into the cabin by his wife and a flight attendant, sustaining neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. The aircraft experienced explosive depressurization, prompting oxygen masks to deploy. The pilots swiftly initiated an emergency descent and diverted the flight back to Thessaloniki.

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation, indicated evidence of fatigue cracking on the fan blade that remained in the engine. Investigators also discovered bird remains within the damaged engine, though the definitive cause of the blade's failure is still under review. The fan blades had undergone inspections just weeks prior, adhering to regulations implemented after a similar fatal Southwest Airlines accident in 2018. The NTSB's comprehensive investigation is expected to take one to two years to determine the probable cause and any contributing factors.