What did Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary say about Serbian passenger Ljubisa Karovic’s alleged partial ejection from a Boeing 737 800 window during flight FR 1879 on July 10, what does the NTSB’s preliminary report say happened after an engine fan blade failure caused debris to breac

O’Leary denied that Karovic was partly outside the aircraft: he said Karovic was “certainly sucked towards the window” but that no part of his body went out, while acknowledging he was injured and would receive compensation, though not “millions and millions.” 45

What the preliminary report says

• The NTSB’s preliminary account says the right engine’s No. 10 fan blade separated during climb at about 16,000 feet; fragments penetrated the pressurized fuselage at the row-11 window and lower fuselage, causing depressurization. The pilots declared an emergency, used oxygen masks, descended, shut down the engine below 10,000 feet, and returned safely to Thessaloniki. The report remains preliminary. 12

• It says Karovic, seated at 11F, became partially lodged in the now-missing window. Other passengers pulled him back inside; a passenger sought a metal box to help block the opening, Karovic was moved to row 12, and a doctor passenger treated him with first-aid equipment until landing. 1

• Reported injuries were serious injuries to his head/right shoulder and shock; accounts also described neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns. His wife said she and two passengers held his legs for several minutes. 4

O’Leary’s comments and the safety issues

• The NTSB criticized O’Leary’s earlier public discussion—reportedly suggesting “foreign object damage”—because parties to an active international accident investigation are expected to avoid public statements that speculate on causes or could prejudice the inquiry. 45

• The fan-cowl hardware had not received the enhanced fasteners and external doubler specified in FAA Airworthiness Directive 2025-04-02. 1

• The engine had ultrasonic inspections in May with no fault found. Investigators nevertheless recovered bird remains, including feathers, from the affected engine, so a possible bird strike remained an investigative issue rather than an established cause. 14

Compensation and shareholder backdrop

• Ryanair’s position, through O’Leary, was that Karovic is entitled to some compensation, but not the very large damages implied by “millions and millions.” 5

• The dispute unfolded alongside opposition at Ryanair’s annual meeting to O’Leary’s proposed pay arrangement: 39% of shareholders voted against a plan that could yield at least €150 million, although it still won majority support. 6