Ryanair Boeing 737 Engine Failure Forces Emergency Landing After Detached Fan Blade Damages Fuselage

A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany turned into a fight for survival when an engine fan blade detached in mid-air and damaged the fuselage. The incident occurred less than ten minutes after takeoff on July 10th.

The detached fan blade, part of a CFM International CFM56-7B26 model, caused debris to pierce the metal skin near the powerplant, destroying a window in row 11 and leaving a dent near row eight. The lower section of the fuselage beneath the wing was also damaged.

The passenger seated at 11F, Ljubisa Karovic, had his head and shoulders partially pulled through the blown-out window before his wife and a flight attendant managed to pull him back into the cabin. He sustained severe injuries.