An international flight from Greece to Germany suffered a severe cabin depressurization in July after engine debris ruptured the aircraft fuselage, according to an initial investigative report released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident, involving a Ryanair aircraft traveling on July 10 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen, left a passenger seriously injured after a portion of the cabin exterior tore open during the climb.
Investigators documented that the right engine of the aircraft experienced a blade-out failure as the plane gained altitude, causing a fan blade to detach from the turbine assembly. Fragments from the engine tore through the cabin skin, triggering an immediate loss of pressure that caught flight attendants and travelers off guard. Aviation safety authorities noted that the complete investigation into the mechanical breakdown and structural failure could take up to two years to finalize.
The July 10 journey turned perilous moments after takeoff when the aircraft climbed away from Thessaloniki. According to the NTSB preliminary findings, the right-side engine suffered a sudden structural failure of a fan blade. The resulting high-velocity fragments pierced the plane’s outer shell, damaging other areas of the fuselage alongside the primary breach.
A passenger seated near the affected zone was partially pulled toward the exterior through the damaged opening after the cabin window assembly was entirely torn away. A flight attendant rushed to the area during the emergency and found the tourist trapped in the gap. Nearby travelers managed to pull the individual back inside the cabin before the aircraft stabilized.
The sudden structural breach startled passengers aboard the cabin. One traveler described the sound of the engine failure to Radio Thessalonique, comparing the noise to a bursting tire. Passengers immediately recognized the sudden change in cabin pressure as screams filled the compartment, with some briefly fearing that an emergency exit door had swung open.
Investigation Findings and Engine Examination
The NTSB report details that while engine components struck the aircraft body, investigators also recovered bird remains from inside the turbine. However, safety officials emphasized that the preliminary findings do not draw a definitive conclusion regarding whether the wildlife strike directly caused the initial fan blade fracture.
The injured tourist sustained severe injuries during the rapid decompression event and subsequent structural failure.
Safety Context and Regulatory Oversight
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