Ryanair chief O'Leary: Window damage on Boeing 737 likely caused by foreign object

In the incident on a flight to Memmingen shortly after takeoff from the Greek city of Thessaloniki, a part of the engine broke off and shattered the window. The pressure loss caused a passenger to be partially sucked out of the broken cabin window. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing. No updated statement on the health of the person affected was given in Ryanair's information on Monday.

What happened on July 10

According to O'Leary, the affected aircraft is a Boeing 737 that is 18 years old. The engine had been fully maintained and overhauled over the past two years. The manager thus ruled out two explanations that often play a role in public debate about aircraft incidents: technical fatigue due to old age, and inadequate maintenance.

O'Leary also pointed out that a confirmation of the foreign object cause would reduce the liability of both Boeing and Ryanair. The Irish low-cost carrier is one of the largest customers of Boeing aircraft in Europe and is therefore directly affected by any possible design or manufacturing issues, which are being examined in parallel with the ongoing investigation.

Role of the US authority NTSB

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is responsible for Boeing, is investigating the incident. The NTSB is the national authority of the United States for the investigation of accidents in air, road, and rail traffic, as well as in maritime shipping, and is therefore internationally also responsible for incidents involving US aircraft types. A first draft report is expected in about 28 days.

Until this draft is available, the exact cause remains officially unconfirmed. Ryanair stressed that the incident will continue to be investigated. O'Leary spoke of preliminary findings and warned against drawing final conclusions from the initial indications. The final assessment therefore remains the responsibility of the authorities.

The incident attracted attention immediately after July 10 because video footage from the cabin documented the dramatic seconds of the depressurization. Such scenes are rare in civil aviation, as cabin windows are secured multiple times and a passenger's body being pulled out through a breaking window is an exception.

Ryanair and Boeing in focus

Ryanair is one of the largest European low-cost airlines and operates a fleet that consists predominantly of Boeing 737 models. Following the repeated production problems at Boeing in recent years, including with the 737 MAX series, incidents involving aircraft from the manufacturer are particularly in the public spotlight. A connection to earlier incidents is, however, not proven at this point.

O'Leary also used the quarterly results conference call to present the airline's operational performance. Ryanair had reported rising passenger numbers in recent quarters. The manager attempted to separate the company's financial framework from the ongoing incident, but also pointed to the importance of a swift clarification of the cause.

For the affected passengers and the crew of the flight to Memmingen, processing the experience is likely to continue. Emergency landings with pressure loss are considered extremely critical events in aviation, as the sudden pressure difference between cabin and outside pressure can lead to injuries. The airline did not comment in detail on Monday on compensation or affected customers.

Foreign objects at airports

The industry is also watching the case with regard to the question of what role foreign objects play at airports. Foreign object damage, known in technical jargon as "Foreign Object Debris" (FOD), refers to damage caused by objects that remain on runways, taxiways, or aprons and are sucked into engines. Airport operators therefore maintain their own programs for regular inspection of movement areas.

O'Leary did not explain what kind of foreign object it might be. Nor did he provide further details on Monday on the specific sequence of the emergency landing, such as the exact destination and the duration of the incident. These points remain reserved for the official investigation report.

According to its own information, the NTSB is working with the Greek authorities in the investigation, as the takeoff took place in Thessaloniki. Coordination with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is responsible for the operation of the aircraft in European airspace, is also customary in such incidents. Which bodies ultimately publish the final report depends on the outcome of the investigations.

Outlook on the draft report

Ryanair announced that it would provide further information as soon as the draft report is available. Until then, the incident is considered not fully clarified. The airline emphasized that passenger safety is the company's top priority and pointed to the existing maintenance and safety procedures.

According to the company, the consequences for Ryanair's flight operations on Monday were limited. The affected aircraft was taken out of service, while the rest of the flight schedule was being handled with other aircraft in the fleet, it said. Bookings for the Thessaloniki-Memmingen route remain available.

Overall, the case illustrates the sensitivity of the issue of aircraft safety. Even a single incident in which no one suffered permanent harm can briefly undermine confidence in an airline and an aircraft manufacturer. The coming weeks, until the publication of the first draft report, will show whether O'Leary's preliminary assessment is confirmed or whether new aspects emerge.

The incident comes at a time when civil aviation as a whole is struggling with rising passenger numbers and high fleet utilization. Bottlenecks at aircraft manufacturers, particularly at Boeing, have led to delivery delays in recent years. A cluster of technical incidents could further aggravate these problems, which is why the case is significant beyond Ryanair, for the industry as a whole.