Frankfurt (Germany), 14 Aug. (LaPresse) – Debris from an engine, likely following a bird strike, caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 during take-off from Thessaloniki, with a passenger being partially sucked out of the aircraft. This was confirmed by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a report on the 10 July incident. According to investigators, as reported by Bild, an engine blade broke off and several fragments struck the fuselage in various places, also damaging the window next to seat 11F. Remains of birds were also found inside the engine, a circumstance which suggests a bird strike during take-off is likely. The aircraft was en route from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, Germany. The 61-year-old passenger, Ljubisa Karovic, had been partially dragged out of the aircraft: his head and right arm had remained outside whilst the aircraft was flying at around 600 kilometres per hour and at an altitude of 4,500 metres. Karovic had been held back by his wife and another passenger and was subsequently admitted to hospital in Thessaloniki with injuries to his neck and shoulder, as well as friction burns. The flight was operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair. The NTSB has taken over the investigation from the Greek authorities.
Greece: Engine debris caused window to shatter on Ryanair flight
Frankfurt (Germany), 14 Aug. (LaPresse) – Debris from an engine, likely following a bird strike, caused a window to shatter on a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 during take-off from Thessaloniki, with a passenger being partially sucked out of the aircraft. This was confirmed by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a report on the 10 July incident. According to investigators, as reported by Bild, an engine blade broke off and several fragments struck the fuselage in various places, also damaging the window next to seat 11F. Remains of birds were also found inside the engine, a circumstance which suggests a bird strike during take-off is likely. The aircraft was en route from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, Germany. The 61-year-old passenger, Ljubisa Karovic, had been partially dragged out of the aircraft: his head and right arm had remained outside whilst the aircraft was flying at around 600 kilometres per hour and at an altitude of 4,500 metres. Karovic had been held back by his wife and another passenger and was subsequently admitted to hospital in Thessaloniki with injuries to his neck and shoulder, as well as friction burns. The flight was operated by Malta Air, a subsidiary of Ryanair. The NTSB has taken over the investigation from the Greek authorities.