# Ryanair window blowout: NTSB finds fatigue and maintenance l > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ryanair-window-failure-incident > Updated: 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 552. Developments: 14. The technical investigation into the July 10, 2026, window blowout on Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air flight FR1879 has expanded to include specific maintenance deficiencies and metal fatigue. While bird remains were found in the engine, suggesting a possible strike, the NTSB has not concluded that a strike caused the failure. Investigators found that approximately 37 percent of the fractured fan blade’s surface showed signs of “high-amplitude fatigue” caused by repeated stress. Maintenance deficiencies were also identified, including fan blades that fractured because fasteners lacked recommended enhancers and an overdue mandated enhancement for engine exhaust nozzle brackets. The investigation is also examining the maintenance intervals of the 18-year-old Boeing 737-800 and why an engine component was not self-contained within the engine cowl. Preliminary reports suggest that fragments from a broken fan blade in the right engine struck and shattered the window. The incident, which occurred at approximately 15,000 to 16,000 feet during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, resulted in the partial ejection of 61-year-old Ljubisa Karović. Karović sustained serious physical and psychological injuries, including multiple contusions, facial swelling, severe frostbite, and temporary paralysis on the right side of his body. Legal representative Vasileios Tsiaras is preparing a multi-million euro lawsuit on behalf of Karović and 35 other passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has disputed claims that the passenger was sucked out of the aircraft. While O’Leary acknowledged the passenger was “certainly sucked towards the window” and “pulled toward the window in very dramatic circumstances,” he maintains that “any part of his body went out through the window” is incorrect, denying that any part of the man’s anatomy actually exited the aircraft. Karović’s wife, Svetlana, has countered this, describing him as being “half in and half out” of the plane. ## Claims - Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary disputes that any part of the passenger's body went outside the aircraft through the broken window. (disputed by 28 sources) - The passenger's head and right arm were pulled through the window due to sudden cabin decompression. (disputed by 27 sources) - The incident occurred on July 10 shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece. (corroborated by 46 sources) - An engine fan blade broke off and sent parts flying that shattered a plane window and damaged the fuselage. (corroborated by 43 sources) - A 61-year-old man suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns when his head was partially sucked into the fuselage hole. (corroborated by 38 sources) - Investigators found bird remains inside the engine, suggesting a possible bird strike during takeoff. (corroborated by 32 sources) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the incident. (corroborated by 27 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Ryanair disputes claims of passenger being sucked through broken window Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary disputes claims that a passenger was partially sucked out of a plane window during a July flight from Greece, despite reports of severe injuries from cabin decompression. 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-disputes-passenger-account-of-mid-flight-window-failure ### 2026-08-21: Ryanair passengers prepare multi-million euro lawsuit after mid-air window failure Passengers are pursuing a multi-million euro lawsuit against Ryanair after a Boeing 737 engine failure caused a window to break and cabin decompression during a flight from Greece to Germany. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-passengers-file-multi-million-euro-lawsuit-after-mid-air-window-failure ### 2026-08-18: Ryanair passenger lawsuit planned after mid-air window breach A lawyer is preparing a multi-million euro lawsuit following a Ryanair flight incident where a passenger was partially sucked out of a window after an engine component failure caused cabin depressurization. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-faces-bird-related-delays-and-legal-action ### 2026-08-15: NTSB finds metal fatigue caused Ryanair engine failure and window breach An NTSB preliminary report indicates metal fatigue and maintenance deficiencies caused an engine failure on a Malta Air flight, which resulted in cabin depressurization and a passenger being partially ejected. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ntsb-finds-metal-fatigue-caused-ryanair-engine-failure-and-window-breach ### 2026-08-13: Ryanair engine failure causes window to shatter and passenger to be partially sucked out An NTSB report reveals that an engine fan blade failure caused a Ryanair flight window to shatter, partially sucking a passenger out mid-flight. Investigators are looking into metal fatigue and potential bird-v 114 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-engine-failure-shatters-window-and-injures-passenger ### 2026-07-26: Ryanair flight suffers window blowout, passenger nearly sucked out at 15,000 ft A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered a window blowout at 15,000 ft, nearly pulling passenger Ljubisa Karovic out; crew and fellow passengers rescued him and the plane returned safely, sparks 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-flight-suffers-window-blowout-passenger-nearly-sucked-out-at-15000-ft ### 2026-07-24: Ryanair Boeing 737 engine failure injures passenger during Greece flight A Ryanair Boeing 737 suffered an engine blade failure after take‑off from Greece on 10 July, breaking a window and almost ejecting a passenger. The NTSB, invited by Greece, is investigating possible foreign‑obj 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-boeing-737-engine-failure-injures-passenger-during-greece-flight ### 2026-07-24: Ljubiša Karović survives Ryanair window failure after being partially sucked out Ryanair flight FR1879 suffered a mid‑air window blowout at 15,000 ft, partially sucking out Ljubiša Karović; he was rescued by his wife and passengers, suffered burns and a neck brace, and Ryanair replied only 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-boeing-737-window-blowout-injures-passenger-ljubisa-karovic ### 2026-07-22: Ryanair passenger Ljubisa Karović nearly sucked out of plane window A Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany suffered a window rupture, briefly ejecting passenger Ljubisa Karović; he survived with serious injuries and his family plans legal action. 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-passenger-ljubisa-karovi-survives-harrowing-plane-window-incident ### 2026-07-20: Ryanair flight window break sucks passenger out, injuries reported A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered a broken window that partially sucked out passenger Ljubisa Karović, causing serious injuries and prompting a foreign‑object‑damage investigation. 45 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-emergency-descent-after-cabin-window-loss-sparks-multinational-probe ### 2026-07-17: Ryanair plane suffers broken window over Greece, passenger nearly ejected A Ryanair (Malta Air) 737‑800 suffered a broken window after a right‑engine fragment struck it on a Thessaloniki‑to‑Malta flight; a passenger was nearly ejected but rescued, and the plane returned safely for an 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ntsb-to-lead-investigation-of-ryanair-boeing-737-window-failure-over-greece ### 2026-07-13: Ryanair flight window blast leaves passenger hanging; wife pulls him to safety A Ryanair flight’s window blew out after a engine part failed, partially ejecting a passenger. His wife and two others pulled him back, averting death. He remains hospitalized; investigations involve Greek, U.S 77 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-boeing-737800-suffers-window-break-makes-emergency-landing-after-takeoff-from-thessaloniki ### 2026-07-10: Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki returns after window blows out, passenger nearly sucked out A Ryanair Boeing 737‑800 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen lost a window, briefly pulling a Serbian passenger outside; the plane returned safely and an international probe has begun. 42 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-flight-suffers-window-blowout-passenger-nearly-sucked-out-midair ### 2026-07-08: Ryanair flight returns after window breaks and passenger is partially sucked out A Ryanair Boeing 737‑800 flying from Thessaloniki to Memmingen suffered a window break after an engine fragment hit it, partially sucking out a Serbian passenger; the plane returned safely and investigations by 266 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ryanair-flight-from-thessaloniki-forced-to-return-after-emergency-incident --- Cite as: Ryanair window blowout: NTSB finds fatigue and maintenance l. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ryanair-window-failure-incident