Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Reveals Initial Findings from July 10 Window Blowout on Flight FR1879

Injuries Sustained by Passenger Ljubisa Karovic

Ljubisa Karovic, a 61-year-old Serbian national, was sitting next to the window when debris shattered the acrylic pane. He was partially sucked head-first out of the aircraft into the slipstream at roughly 15,000–16,000 ft. Fellow passengers, including his wife Svetlana Grkovic, grabbed his legs and pulled him back inside . He suffered severe injuries to his neck and right arm . He was hospitalized after the emergency landing back at Thessaloniki.

Investigation Roles: NTSB, Greece, and EASA

• Greece — The Hellenic Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Committee (AAIAS) initially opened the investigation as the incident occurred in Greek airspace .
• NTSB (U.S.) — On July 16, Greece delegated the lead role to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Under ICAO rules, because the aircraft (a Boeing 737 manufactured in the U.S.) and its CFM56-7B engine were designed and built in the United States, the NTSB is now the primary investigative agency .
• EASA — The European Union Aviation Safety Agency appointed a technical advisor to participate in the investigation, announced on July 13 .

Timeline for a Draft Report

O'Leary stated that a draft report is expected within 28 days from his July 20 remarks, meaning around mid-August 2026 .

Comparisons to the 2018 Southwest Airlines Engine Failure

Multiple sources drew direct parallels between this incident and the April 2018 Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 engine failure, in which a fan blade in a CFM56-7B engine broke apart on a Boeing 737-700, sending debris into the fuselage and killing one passenger . In both cases:

• The engine was a CFM International CFM56-7B.
• A fan blade failure led to an uncontained engine failure.
• Debris penetrated the cabin, striking a window and causing rapid decompression.

O'Leary himself did not invite the comparison, but the similarity has been highlighted by analysts and the NTSB's decision to take the lead — the 2018 Southwest tragedy remains a critical precedent for CFM56-7B fan blade failures . Investigators are checking whether the same blade inspection protocols and life limits are at issue again .