Bird Strike on Malta Air 737 Shattered Window at 16,000 Feet, Partly Sucking Out 61-Year-Old
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 13
Bird Strike on Malta Air 737 Shattered Window at 16,000 Feet, Partly Sucking Out 61-Year-Old
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 13
Summary
NTSB investigators said a bird strike on July 10 damaged a Malta Air Boeing 737 engine, sending broken fan-blade pieces into the fuselage and through a Row 11 window.
At about 16,000 feet less than 10 minutes after takeoff from Thessaloniki, vibrations intensified, a loud bang sounded, cabin alarms triggered and oxygen masks dropped for 149 passengers.
The 61-year-old Serbian passenger was pulled partly outside before his wife and other passengers dragged him back; a doctor on board treated him, and he was later hospitalized with friction burns.
The flight to Memmingen returned to Thessaloniki, while investigators said the engine had passed a May blade inspection despite four suspected bird strikes involving that engine in the prior 12 months.
The preliminary report was issued by the NTSB for Greek authorities; Ryanair declined comment until the inquiry ends, and the full investigation is expected to take one to two years.