Engine fragments from likely bird strike broke Ryanair window; Serbian passenger injured

American investigators say fragments from a jet engine — likely dislodged after a bird strike during takeoff — shattered a cabin window on a Ryanair aircraft in an incident in July 2026 that left a Serbian passenger injured.

Key components from the engine broke apart and damaged the fuselage, the report says.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), working with Greek authorities, reported that a turbine blade disintegrated and pierced a window, causing damage to the airplane’s fuselage in several places. Remains of birds were recovered from the engine, suggesting a collision with birds during the departure roll or initial climb.

The injured traveller, 61-year-old Ljubiša Karović of Vrnjačka Banja, was nearly pulled out of the aircraft up to his waist when the window broke. He suffered injuries to his neck and shoulder and additional wounds from his seatbelt; his wife, Svetlana Grković Maksimović, who was travelling with him from Thessaloniki to Germany for a family celebration, held his legs while crew members and other passengers helped bring him back into the cabin.

Flight attendants told investigators they experienced strong vibrations and smoke in the cabin before the automatic oxygen masks deployed over the seats. Crew improvised by placing a metal box against the broken window until the plane was able to return to Thessaloniki roughly half an hour later. Medical help on board treated Karović after he was moved to a safer location.

Karović has said he plans to sue three companies connected to the flight: Ryanair, Boeing (the airframe manufacturer) and General Electric (the engine maker). The NTSB report and the joint U.S.–Greek investigation remain ongoing as authorities seek to determine the precise sequence of failures that allowed engine parts to separate and breach the cabin.

Photo: press material from the event