美国国家运输安全委员会(NTSB)的调查结果确认，瑞安航空一架客机舱窗破裂是由发动机部件损伤所致[1][2]。事件发生于7月10日，该航班从希腊塞萨洛尼基飞往德国梅明根[2]。根据NTSB初步报告，飞机右侧引擎的风扇叶片在爬升阶段失效，破损的引擎部件随后击穿舱窗[2]。塞尔维亚籍乘客Ljubisa Karović的头部和右肩被吸出窗外并遭受重伤[2]。
机组采取了紧急措施，包括减少引擎功率、进行一系列检查、宣布紧急状态并降低高度，最终成功返回起飞地安全着陆[2]。乘客家属表示，Ljubisa的妻子Svetlana Grković Maksimović和另外两名乘客扣住他的腿坚持了数分钟[2]。NTSB的记录显示，该引擎在今年5月曾进行过超声波检查，当时未发现故障[2]。瑞安航空首席执行官Michael O'Leary推测事故可能由"异物伤害"引起[2]。这架飞机由瑞安航空子公司Malta Air运营[2]。
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that damaged engine components were responsible for shattering a Ryanair aircraft window, resulting in a passenger's head and shoulder being drawn toward the opening during flight.[1][2] The incident occurred on July 10 aboard a Ryanair flight operated by its subsidiary Malta Air, traveling from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany.[2]
According to the NTSB preliminary report, the No. 2 engine's fan blade failed during the climb phase, causing debris that struck and penetrated the cabin window.[2] Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karović sustained severe injuries when his head and right shoulder were sucked toward the compromised window.[2] His wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, along with two other passengers, managed to hold onto his legs for several minutes during the emergency.[2] The flight crew responded by reducing engine power, conducting multiple checks, declaring an emergency, and descending to make a successful return to the departure airport.[2]
The engine had undergone ultrasonic inspection in May of this year with no defects identified at that time.[2] Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has speculated that the accident may have resulted from "foreign object damage."[2]