Ryanair Flight Incident Potentially Caused by Foreign Object Damage, CEO Says
An initial investigation into a Ryanair flight where a passenger was partially sucked out of a window suggests engine damage from an external object, according to the airline's CEO.
The incident on a Ryanair flight on July 10, which resulted in a passenger being partially sucked out of a cabin window, may have been caused by "foreign object damage" to an engine, said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary.
During takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece, bound for Germany, the engine of the 18-year-old Boeing 737 aircraft was affected. O'Leary stated that an initial investigation indicates the damage was consistent with an external object, though he cautioned that this conclusion is not yet definitive. He also confirmed that the engine had undergone a full service and overhaul within the last two years.
Serbian national Ljubisa Karović sustained serious injuries and was left in shock after his head and right shoulder were pulled out of the aircraft window. His wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, recounted how she and other passengers held onto his legs for several minutes to prevent him from being fully ejected. "We pulled him back together. His entire face was deformed and blood was pouring from his nose and mouth," she told BBC Serbia. The plane made an emergency landing, and Karović was hospitalized.
The aircraft was operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair. Passengers reported hearing "some kind of explosion" on board the flight.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is involved in the investigation. O'Leary indicated that a draft report is expected in approximately 28 days. Confirmation of the damage being caused by an external object could have implications for the liabilities of Ryanair or Boeing in relation to the incident.