A bird strike is suspected as the cause of a catastrophic engine failure that led to a passenger being nearly sucked out of a Ryanair flight, according to a preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident occurred on July 10 aboard Malta Air Flight 1879, a Boeing 737-8AS, as it was climbing past 16,000 feet after departing Greece for Germany.
Investigators found bird remains, including feathers, within the damaged right engine. The report states that the aircraft's right engine had experienced four suspected bird strikes in the 12 months preceding this incident. While a fractured fan blade showed signs of fatigue, the presence of organic material on adjacent blades suggests a bird strike may have initiated the failure.
Engine Failure and Cabin Depressurization
The dislodged fan blade is believed to have shattered one of the plane's cabin windows, causing rapid depressurization. Passenger Ljubisa Karović, seated at window 11F, was reportedly almost ejected from the aircraft due to the sudden loss of pressure. Other passengers intervened, holding onto Karović to prevent him from being pulled out of the plane.
Karović, 61, sustained severe burns and bruises on his right arm. He described the experience as hearing an "explosion" and "noise before the chaos," recounting that he fainted twice during the incident. Despite his injuries, he expressed gratitude for being alive.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Mandates
The NTSB is continuing its investigation, in conjunction with international safety authorities, to definitively determine if the bird strike was the sole cause of the engine failure. The report also noted that the aircraft's engine covers had not yet been updated with stronger safety bolts mandated by recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. However, Ryanair was not in violation of regulations, as airlines have until July 2028 to comply with these safety upgrades.