Bird remains found in Ryanair 737 engine after window incident
The US National Transportation Safety Board said bird remains were found in a Ryanair 737 engine after an engine part shattered a window during a July flight from Greece.
· The Island · 2 min read
The US National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday that bird remains were found in the engine of a Ryanair Boeing 737 NG after an engine component shattered a window shortly after takeoff from Greece in July.
What happened
A passenger was partially pulled through the opening when the window broke. A man was brought back to safety after his head was sucked into the hole in the aircraft’s fuselage, the reports said.
The NTSB’s finding adds a detail to the US inquiry into the incident. Investigators found bird remains in the affected engine, while the inquiry also identified an engine part as the object that shattered the window.
The reports did not identify the flight number, the airport in Greece or the passenger involved. They also did not state whether anyone required medical treatment or whether the aircraft sustained other damage.
Why it matters
The incident places an unusual Ryanair flight safety event under examination by a US transport investigator. It also connects an engine problem with damage to the aircraft’s fuselage, rather than describing a routine bird strike or a standard window failure.
Ryanair is an Irish airline and one of Europe’s largest short-haul carriers. The findings will therefore be relevant to the airline’s safety teams, passengers and investors, although the reports do not describe any wider operational impact or regulatory action.