Ryanair CEO Disputes Passenger Sucked Out of 737 Window

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has publicly disputed claims that a passenger was partially sucked out of a shattered aircraft window during a July incident. The disagreement centers on events aboard an 18-year-old Boeing 737 on July 10, which suffered a window failure shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece, en route to Memmingen, Germany.

According to a preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), fan blades in the jet's right CFM turbofan engine fractured during climb-out. Investigators believe debris from the blades blew through the engine cowling and struck the window, causing it to fully shatter. Passenger Ljubisa Karovic, 61, sustained neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.

Contested Accounts of the Incident

The NTSB's report states flight attendants found Karovic "partially lodged" in the window frame beside seat 11F. His wife and other passengers claim his head and shoulders were sucked out of the hole. Seatmates held his legs to pull him back inside, while a flight attendant attempted to plug the opening with a metal catering canister.

During a press event on Thursday, O'Leary offered a contradictory version. He told reporters the passenger "wasn't partially out the window." O'Leary added, "We don't think any part of his body got out the window, but he was certainly sucked in very dramatic circumstances towards the window."

NTSB Rebuke and Investigation Rules

The NTSB had previously warned O'Leary against making public comments about the ongoing investigation. In a letter, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy reminded O'Leary that Ryanair is an accredited representative in the probe under international rules. These rules forbid releasing information without the investigating authority's express permission. The letter followed earlier comments from O'Leary suggesting "foreign object damage" caused the engine failure. The NTSB's preliminary report later noted bird debris was found in the damaged engine.

Uninstalled Safety Modification

The preliminary report also revealed the aircraft had not yet received a specific safety modification mandated by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive from March 2025. This directive resulted from NTSB recommendations following a nearly identical 2018 accident on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 that killed one passenger. The modifications are designed to prevent broken engine fan blades from penetrating the engine cowl and striking the fuselage.

Airlines have until July 31, 2028, to complete these modifications. The Ryanair aircraft involved had undergone regular maintenance, including ultrasonic scanning of its fan blades, which had not detected any cracks.

The source of this report is Paddle Your Own Kanoo (PYOK).