Engine parts smashed Ryanair window that man's head was sucked out of, report says

This video can not be played Watch: Inside Ryanair plane flying with dislodged window Broken engine fragments smashed a cabin window of a Ryanair plane causing a man's head and right shoulder to be sucked into the hole last month, US investigators have said. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wrote in a preliminary report that this happened after an engine fan blade broke shortly after takeoff on the 10 July flight from Greece to Germany. Serbian national Ljubisa Karović's head and right shoulder were sucked out of the plane's window, leaving him "seriously injured and in shock". His wife Svetlana Grković Maksimović later told BBC Serbiathat she and two other passengers held onto his legs for several minutes. The NTSB said the flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen "experienced a No. 2 (right) engine fan-blade-out (FBO) failure during climb out". "The crew elected to return to SKG [Thessaloniki International Airport] where they made an uneventful landing." The NTSB was "delegated the investigation in full" by the Greek authorities in the days following the incident. It also detailed a timeline of events given by the flight crew, who said they received a "high vibration" engine alert during the climb. In response, they reduced the engine power and carried out a series of checks. When the vibrations stopped, the crew continued to climb on autopilot, the report said. But the engine vibrations then increased and the crew heard a loud bang, prompting them to declare an emergency and begin their descent. Flight attendants reported hearing and feeling the vibrations, and seeing a small amount of smoke before the oxygen masks were deployed. One flight attendant said they then noticed passengers calling for help after a passenger became "partially lodged in a damaged cabin window", with the entire window missing. The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspections in May this year with no findings of fault, the report stated. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary earlier suggested thatthe incident may have been caused by "foreign object damage" to an engine. The aircraft was operated by Ryanair's subsidiary Malta Air. 'If we die, we die together': Wife of man nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane speaks of ordeal Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day.Sign up here. Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Nigel Farage returns as MP, winning Clacton by-election that major parties boycotted Farage's by-election victory won't stop questions about finances Firefighters tackle blazes in West Midlands for second day as crews say 'progress being made' 'Survival has become the priority': Afghan women speak to BBC after five years of Taliban rule Wildlife suffering in heatwaves, say experts I got an £89 refund – how to cancel and avoid unwanted subscriptions Weekly quiz: What was used to smuggle Donald Trump off Air Force One? You got hold of eclipse glasses just in time - here's what to do with them now Couple tie the knot on 'magical' solar eclipse day The Papers: 'Houses burn and train derails on hottest day' and 'Britain on fire' Why heatwaves hit women harder Future Earth newsletter: Keep up with the latest climate news with Justin Rowlatt Philomena Cunk examines life and existence Listen back to Salonen orchestras playing 20th-century classics In 1940s Australia, a young orphan is brought to a remote orphanage How a murder case has been fuelling a culture war Engine parts smashed Ryanair window that man's head was sucked out of, report says NHS service admits data breach due to pager use 'Houses burn and train derails on hottest day' and 'Britain on fire' Farage's by-election victory won't stop questions about finances New Zealand break with OFC to withdraw Infantino support You got hold of eclipse glasses just in time - here's what to do with them now 'She was just Gaynor from up the road' - villagers ready for emotional Bonnie Tyler goodbye 'Two out of four, baby' - Hunt wins 200m as she eyes historic quadruple I got an £89 refund – how to cancel and avoid unwanted subscriptions Son of 102-year-old says father died after being 'pushed off stage' Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Read about our approach to external linking.