Story perspectives

NTSB Links Ryanair 737 Fan-Blade Failure to Possible Bird Strikes

8/14/2026

Summary

Ryanair Engine Failure

On July 10 2026 a Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737-800 suffered a right-engine fan-blade break that shattered a window and partially sucked a 61-year-old passenger’s head out.
The NTSB found bird remains in the engine and recorded four suspected bird strikes on that engine in the previous 12 months, two producing debris.
Investigators will examine May 2026 and November 2025 fan-blade inspections to assess whether bird strikes contributed to any pre-existing damage.

Summary

FAA Dismisses Parallel

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said early signs do not indicate the Ryanair incident mirrors the April 2018 Southwest crash.
Boeing said it will defer to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and follow international investigation protocols, offering no comment.
CFM confirmed the engine maker is cooperating with the NTSB’s fan-blade failure probe.
The cockpit voice recorder logged a loud bang about nine minutes and 20 seconds into the take-off roll.

History

Historical Context

After Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 suffered a fan-blade fracture on 17 April 2018, the NTSB and FAA issued emergency directives requiring ultrasonic inspections of CFM56-7B blades on engines with 20,000-30,000 cycles, ultimately covering 3,716 U.S. engines. That precedent shaped the July 2026 Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737-800 bird-debris failure, prompting regulators to again tighten blade-damage reporting and inspection rules.

1 of 3

Ryanair Engine Failure

On July 10 2026 a Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737-800 suffered a right-engine fan-blade break that shattered a window and partially sucked a 61-year-old passenger’s head out.
The NTSB found bird remains in the engine and recorded four suspected bird strikes on that engine in the previous 12 months, two producing debris.
Investigators will examine May 2026 and November 2025 fan-blade inspections to assess whether bird strikes contributed to any pre-existing damage.

1 / 3