Boeing 737 Jet Experiences Catastrophic Engine Failure, Passenger Injured

A Boeing 737-8AS jet experienced a catastrophic failure on July 10 when a fan blade broke off and slammed into the cabin, causing significant damage and injuries to a passenger.

The incident occurred less than 10 minutes after takeoff from Thessaloniki in Greece, where it was forced to return for an emergency landing. The plane's No. 2 engine, a CFM International model CFM56-7B26, experienced a fan blade separation that resulted in engine fragments striking the fuselage and right horizontal stabilizer.

The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11 and leaving a dent near row 8. The passenger who was partially sucked out of the window, 61-year-old Ljubisa Karovic, suffered significant injuries but was pulled back into the plane by his wife and a flight attendant.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed evidence of fatigue cracking on what remained of the broken blade. The CFM-56 engine is one of the most widely used in aviation, built by a joint venture between French Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace. The NTSB report also mentioned four suspected bird strikes within the year before the incident, but no damage was found at those times.