Ryanair: Σε «ζημιά από ξένο σώμα» αποδίδει ο CEO την έκρηξη παραθύρου στο Boeing 737

Ryanair ↘ 1.13% CEO Michael O'Leary said on Monday that initial findings from an investigation into the July 10 incident in which a passenger was partly sucked out of a Boeing The Boeing Company ↘ 0.70% 737's broken window suggest "foreign object damage" to the aircraft's engine during takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece.

"Initial indication would suggest it looks like a foreign object damage to the engine on takeoff at Thessaloniki, but we don't have, we can't say that definitively," O'Leary told analysts while presenting Ryanair's results for the April-June quarter.wkzo+1

He said a draft report on the incident is expected in approximately 28 days, with a more detailed report to follow.investing+1

The Incident

On July 10, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 operating as flight FR1879 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, Germany, experienced a window failure roughly 10 minutes after takeoff at approximately 13,000 feet. A passenger, identified as Serbian national Ljubisa Karovic, was partially pulled out of the aircraft before fellow passengers grabbed him and his seatbelt held him in place. He sustained neck, shoulder, and friction injuries and was hospitalized.mynbc15+3

The aircraft made an emergency landing back at Thessaloniki, where it remains grounded. Greek media reported at the time that a piece of engine debris struck and shattered the cabin window, causing rapid decompression.reuters+2

Investigation Takes Shape

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board announced on July 16 that it would lead the investigation after the Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority elected to delegate the probe under international aviation rules. Greece is participating as the Accredited Representative. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also appointed a technical advisor to the investigation.reuters+2

Earlier reporting indicated that investigators believe the failure may have begun with a fan blade separating inside the aircraft's right-hand CFM56-7B engine, sending debris into the fuselage. O'Leary's remarks on Monday represent the first time Ryanair's leadership has publicly addressed a possible cause, though he stressed the findings remain preliminary.protothema+2

Broader Context

The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2018 Southwest Airlines engine failure on a Boeing 737 NG that killed a passenger. Following that event, the NTSB recommended Boeing redesign the fan cowl structure on 737 NG aircraft, and the FAA issued an airworthiness directive with a 2028 completion deadline.nypost

O'Leary's comments came as Ryanair reported a steep decline in quarterly profit due to higher fuel costs and weaker fares.reuters+1