Ryanair CEO Points to Foreign Object Damage in Terrifying Greece Window Blowout

An initial investigation into a mid-air window blowout on a Ryanair flight earlier this month suggests the incident was caused by foreign object damage during takeoff, according to the airline’s chief executive. Speaking to analysts following the carrier’s quarterly financial results, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary stated that while a definitive conclusion has not yet been reached, early indications point to external debris striking the engine.

The incident occurred on July 10 aboard a Boeing 737 departing from Thessaloniki, Greece, en route to Memmingen, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, a component of the aircraft’s engine broke off and struck a cabin window, shattering it and causing immediate cabin decompression. The sudden loss of pressure partially sucked a 61-year-old male passenger out of the window. He was saved when his wife and fellow passengers managed to grab him and pull him back inside. The passenger was later hospitalized with neck and shoulder injuries, as well as friction burns.

According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the aircraft had climbed past 15,000 feet approximately six minutes after departure before making a rapid descent to 6,000 feet. The crew maintained this lower altitude for about 30 minutes to burn off fuel before executing an emergency landing back at Thessaloniki International Airport, roughly an hour after takeoff.

Foreign object damage, commonly referred to in the aviation industry as FOD, involves any object—ranging from runway debris and wildlife to loose hardware—that degrades the structural or operational safety of an aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, FOD costs the global aviation industry billions of dollars annually in damaged engines, delayed flights, and structural repairs. If investigators officially attribute the Ryanair incident to FOD, it could significantly limit the legal and financial liabilities of both the airline and the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing.

O’Leary noted that the aircraft involved was 18 years old, having been delivered new to Ryanair in 2008. Despite its age, he emphasized that the engine had undergone a complete service and overhaul within the last two years. A draft report detailing the preliminary findings of the investigation is expected to be released in under a month, with a comprehensive final report to follow.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident. Under international aviation treaties, the NTSB frequently participates in foreign investigations involving American-manufactured aircraft to assist local civil aviation authorities in identifying mechanical or systemic issues. This incident adds to a series of high-profile mid-air structural failures that have kept Boeing under intense regulatory and public scrutiny regarding aircraft manufacturing quality and maintenance standards.