Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Bird remains found in Ryanair 737 engine after Greek incident
A big airplane had a scary problem.
The plane was a Ryanair Boeing 737.
It took off from Greece and was flying to Germany.
Just after takeoff, a piece of the engine broke off.
The broken piece hit and smashed a window.
A passenger was partly pulled through the broken window.
The plane lost air pressure, so the pilot made an emergency landing.
Experts later found bird remains in the engine.
Birds can get sucked into a plane's engine and cause damage.
Investigators are studying what happened so they can keep passengers safe.
A Ryanair Boeing 737 NG passenger was partially sucked through a broken window shortly after takeoff from Greece in July.
The NTSB's preliminary report into the July 10 incident found bird remains in the plane's engine.
Flight crew reported four suspected bird strikes to the No. 2 engine in the 12 months preceding the accident.
Bird remains were reportedly found in two of the cases, but no damage was located during subsequent maintenance.
The NTSB is investigating possible similarities to an April 2018 Southwest Airlines engine failure, though FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said early indications do not suggest the incidents match.
- Who
- Passengers and crew aboard a Ryanair Boeing 737 NG, investigated by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
- What
- Bird remains were found in the engine after a piece of it broke off, smashed a window, and a passenger was partially sucked through the broken window, forcing an emergency landing.
- When
- July 10; the NTSB preliminary report was released on August 13.
- Where
- Shortly after takeoff from Greece, while the plane was headed to Germany.
- Why
- Suspected bird strikes; flight crew had reported four suspected bird strikes to the No. 2 engine in the 12 months before the incident.
- Airline
- Ryanair
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 NG
- Engine
- CFM engine (venture between Safran and General Electric)
- Incident date
- July 10
- Route
- From Greece to Germany
- Investigator
- U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Bird strikes reported
- Four suspected bird strikes in the 12 months before the incident
- Passenger outcome
- Partially sucked through a broken window