In brief
During a flight from Greece to Germany, an engine fan blade failed and fragments smashed a cabin window, pulling a passenger’s head and right shoulder into the hole. The incident triggered an emergency return to Thessaloniki where the crew landed safely. The NTSB investigators report that the engine had passed a May ultrasonic inspection and suggest foreign‑object damage may be a factor. The passenger suffered serious injuries while colleagues held on to him until emergency services reached the airport.
During a flight from Greece to Germany, an engine fan blade failed and fragments sliced through a cabin window, pulling a passenger’s head and right shoulder out of the plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says the incident happened shortly after takeoff on July 10 when the aircraft was climbing out of Thessaloniki International Airport. The crew returned for an uneventful landing after declaring an emergency.
Passenger Ljubisa Karović suffered serious injuries; he was held by flight attendants and his wife’s colleagues until hospital staff arrived. The crash was investigated by Greek authorities before the NTSB was given full investigative authority.
The aircraft had passed a May ultrasonic inspection with no faults, yet the NTSB points to possible foreign‑object damage as a cause. Ryanair’s deputy chief, Michael O’Leary, has suggested a similar explanation.
