NTSB says fatigued engine blade caused Ryanair window breach amid bird-strike history
US NTSB preliminary findings indicate a fatigued engine fan blade fractured on a Ryanair Malta Air 737-800, sending debris into the cabin, shattering a window at row 11 and prompting depressurization as the aircraft climbed to 16,000 feet; a 61-year-old passenger in seat 11F was partially pulled through the opening but was pulled back by others; bird remains were found in several engine parts, and maintenance records show four suspected bird strikes in the prior year, though the root cause is not yet determined; the engine blades had ultrasonic inspections in late 2025 and mid-2026 with no damage detected; investigators say the probe is ongoing.
