Engine Failure on Ryanair Plane: Serbian Passenger Narrowly Escapes Falling Out the Window

Flight FR1879, operated by the Ryanair group from Selanik to Memmingen, Germany, experienced dramatic moments due to a severe engine failure. A technical malfunction that occurred shortly after takeoff caused a sudden drop in cabin pressure. This pressure drop was so severe that one of the windows inside the cabin shattered. A 61-year-old Serbian passenger, who was sitting in his seat at the time, began to be pulled outward through the broken window due to the vacuum effect. Thanks to the swift and brave intervention of other passengers and the flight crew, the elderly man was pulled back to his seat at the last moment, preventing a greater catastrophe.

The incident occurred on July 10 on a "Boeing 737-800" aircraft with the tail number 9H-QEU, operated by Malta Air. Authorities confirmed that while the plane was climbing to an altitude of approximately 4,600 meters, severe damage occurred in its right engine. According to information reported by the flight tracking platform Flightradar24, broken pieces from the engine struck the aircraft fuselage hard, causing a cabin window to shatter into pieces. Oxygen masks automatically deployed, and panic inside the plane instantly escalated. The danger surrounding this situation, which compromised the structural integrity of the aircraft, caused a dangerous moment to be experienced without all passengers panicking.

Due to the drop in cabin pressure, the flight crew quickly made the right decisions and executed a dangerous maneuver. The pilots immediately halted the aircraft's climb and descended to a lower, safer altitude with oxygen. Communicating with air traffic control, the crew declared an Emergency (Mayday), requested permission to return, and diverted the route to Selanik Airport. Approximately 75 minutes after takeoff, the plane landed safely back in Selanik without any further issues. This successful emergency landing was made possible by the professionalism and composure of the flight crew during the crisis.

The Serbian passenger, who was among the victims and attempted to be pulled out the window, was taken to the hospital by ambulances waiting at the airport. According to the aviation portal EX-YU Aviation, the injured passenger was transferred to AHEPA Hospital, where he received medical treatment. Meanwhile, following the safe landing of the aircraft, all passengers were redirected back to the terminal building, and a new flight was arranged by the company for them to reach their destinations on the next plane. The shock and fear experienced by the passengers were partially alleviated by the rapid evacuation and the organized work of the ground crew.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to shed light on the details of the incident. Photos taken after the landing revealed severe physical damage to the right engine wings and the protective outer coating of the aircraft. As part of the investigation, experts are examining whether this structural damage to the engine constitutes an uncontained engine failure. The recent maintenance of this Boeing aircraft, manufactured in 2008 and serving in the Malta Air fleet since 2022, is also under scrutiny. Both the source of the mechanical failure and whether previous technical inspections were sufficient will come to light once the investigation report is finalized.