Fatigue-cracked engine blade triggers window blowout on Ryanair 737, NTSB says
An NTSB preliminary report says a fatigue-cracked No. 2 engine fan blade on a Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS separated on takeoff from Thessaloniki, sending fragments into the cabin, shattering a window and partially sucking a passenger out before crew members pulled him back inside. The July 10 flight returned to Greece for an emergency landing. Investigators found fatigue cracking in the blade and deformation in eight other blades; bird remains were recovered and blade inspections had occurred less than three weeks earlier under a rule prompted by a 2018 Southwest incident. The NTSB will lead the international investigation with Greece, and a final report could take 1-2 years. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s public comments were criticized by the NTSB for discussing potential causes before the investigation concluded.