Key facts
- The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into a Ryanair Boeing 737 engine failure.
- A piece of the engine broke off and smashed a window, leading to a passenger being partially sucked out.
- The incident occurred on July 10 shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Greece has delegated the lead investigative role to the NTSB.
- The FAA is reviewing its response to a similar 2018 incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight.
U.S. aviation safety investigators announced Thursday they are taking over the probe into a Ryanair flight from Greece that experienced an engine issue and cabin decompression shortly after takeoff, leading to a window dislodging and a passenger being partially sucked out. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that after reviewing the plane’s flight path, investigators determined the incident occurred in Greek airspace, not over North Macedonia as initially believed. International aviation rules allow Greece’s Hellenic Air and Rail Safety Investigation Authority to hand the investigation over to the NTSB, which has accepted and is now leading the probe, with Greece participating. The incident happened on July 10 on a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, Germany, operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair. The 61-year-old injured passenger suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. The NTSB had previously stated it was notified of a right engine issue and cabin decompression. Flight records show the Boeing 737-800, delivered to Ryanair in 2008, was climbing past 15,000 feet about six minutes after departure before descending to about 6,000 feet. The aircraft remained at the lower altitude for roughly 30 minutes to burn fuel before returning to Thessaloniki about an hour after takeoff. Passengers reported hearing a loud bang, oxygen masks dropping, and the plane losing altitude. Shye Gilad, a former airline captain, noted that such events are rare and emphasized the importance of keeping seat belts fastened at all times due to the powerful suction effect that can occur during rapid decompression.