A Ryanair (Malta Air) 737-800 registration 9H-QEU was climbing through 15,000 feet about six minutes after departure from Thessaloniki when it apparently suffered an uncontained engine failure of its number two (right side) engine. As a result of debris striking the fuselage, one of the cabin windows on the aircraft shattered. A passenger nearest the window was partially sucked out of the aircraft, with their head becoming stuck in the window. Other passengers and crew were able to pull the passenger back into the aircraft. Upon landing, the passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The flight, which was bound for Memmingen, immediately descended to 6,000 feet to burn fuel for 30 minutes before safely returning to Thessaloniki at 04:09 UTC, approximately one hour after departure.
The shattered window after landing
BREAKING – Today, Ryanair B-737 incident: passenger was injured after being partially sucked out of the plane, reportedly after part of engine detached and struck cabin window. Incident occurred on flight from Thessaloniki (Greece) to Memmingen (Germany).📹 RThess pic.twitter.com/0xJOfUavFR
— Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) July 10, 2026
Uncontained engine failure
Engine damage which hit the window of Malta Air aircraft operating Ryanair flight FR1879 from Thessaloniki to Memmingen leading to a passenger being partially sucked out.
— starflyergold (@starflyergold.bsky.social) July 10, 2026 at 9:18 AM
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The video above shows the extent of the engine damage to the CFM56-7B engine, including missing and damaged fan blades as well as punctures to the engine cowling.
Same aircraft returned on prior flight
The previous flight operated by 9H-QEU also returned to Thessaloniki the day prior. Flight FR5004 was en route to Sarajevo when it stopped its climb at FL320 and returned to SKG a short time later. Ryanair tells The i Paper that FR5004 returned to Thessaloniki “after a passenger became disruptive onboard.”
Aircraft information
This flight was operated by a Malta Air 737-800. Malta Air is a subsidiary of the Ryanair Group and this aircraft wears a Ryanair livery. The 737-800 is powered by two CFM56-7B engines. This airframe was delivered new to Ryanair in March of 2008 and subsequently transferred to the group’s Malta Air operations in 2022.
Featured image ©️ Bradley Rutters
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