Boeing 737 Engine Failure Forces Emergency Landing
A Boeing 737 flight to Germany experienced a catastrophic engine failure on July 10, forcing it to make an emergency landing. The incident occurred just minutes after takeoff from Thessaloniki, Greece.
An engine fan blade broke off and struck the side of the passenger cabin, shattering a window in row 11. Ljubisa Karović, 61, was partially lodged headfirst in the window before other passengers pulled him back inside.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report found evidence of fatigue in the fractured fan blade during its investigation. The NTSB stated that the engine's No. 2 CFM-56 model experienced a fan blade separation, resulting in engine fragments striking the fuselage and right horizontal stabilizer.
The pilots received a warning for high engine vibrations just seven minutes after takeoff. Two minutes later, they heard a loud bang, indicating the engine failure. The plane was flying at 16,000 feet when the issue occurred.