Bird still found in 737 engine after Ryanair Greece incident

• Four suspected bird strikes to the same engine were reported in the 12 months before the accident, with bird remains found in two cases, though no damage was detected during maintenance
• The CFM engine, made by a Safran-GE venture, had been inspected in May with no findings prior to the incident
• The NTSB is investigating similarities to previous events including the April 2018 Southwest Airlines engine failure that killed a passenger, though the FAA Administrator said early indications suggest the incidents are not identical

Summary: Bird Remains Found in Ryanair 737 Engine After Greece Emergency Landing

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported Thursday that bird remains were discovered in the engine of a Ryanair Boeing 737 NG aircraft involved in a July 10, 2026 incident that resulted in an emergency landing and passenger injury.

Key Incident Details:

• The flight was departing Greece en route to Germany when engine debris broke off and shattered a cabin window
• A passenger was partially sucked out of the window following cabin depressurization
• The aircraft made an emergency landing in Thessaloniki

Investigation Findings:

• Flight crew reported four suspected bird strikes to the plane's No. 2 engine in the 12 months preceding the accident
• Bird remains were found in two previous cases, though no damage was detected during subsequent maintenance
• The CFM engine, manufactured by a Safran-General Electric joint venture, was inspected in May with no issues reported

Market Implications:

The NTSB is examining similarities to previous incidents, including an April 2018 Southwest Airlines engine failure that killed a passenger. However, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated early indications suggest the Ryanair incident doesn't mirror the Southwest event.

Companies Involved:

• Ryanair (airline operator)
• Boeing (aircraft manufacturer)
• Safran and General Electric (engine manufacturers through CFM venture)
• Southwest Airlines (referenced for comparison)

Boeing, Ryanair, and engine manufacturers declined comment or were unavailable. The NTSB continues investigating potential connections to similar events involving the same engine model that caused damage to engine components and fuselage structures.