U.S. air safety officials have determined that metal fatigue caused an engine fan blade to fracture on a Ryanair flight last month, resulting in debris that shattered a cabin window and partially pulled a passenger out of the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board identified fatigue features covering approximately 37 percent of the fracture surface on the failed blade, with damage concentrated near the blade’s root where repeated stress had accumulated.
The incident occurred on July 10 aboard a Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, as the aircraft climbed to 16,000 feet en route from Greece to Germany. Pilots received a high-vibration warning from the right engine moments before hearing a loud explosion and experiencing cabin depressurization. Engine fragments penetrated the fuselage and struck a window at row 11, where a 61-year-old passenger became partially lodged in the opening. Fellow travelers managed to pull the man back inside, and he received medical treatment for neck and shoulder injuries sustained during the incident.
Investigators discovered bird remains and feathers in multiple engine components, though officials have not confirmed whether a bird strike triggered the blade failure. Maintenance records reveal the engine experienced four suspected bird strikes over the previous year, with remains recovered after two incidents. Previous ultrasonic inspections in November 2025 and May 2026 had detected no damage to the fan blades. The NTSB continues investigating the incident.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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