An engine failure forced a Ryanair flight operated by Malta Air to make an emergency landing at Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Airport after debris broke off during the flight and struck a passenger cabin window.
The incident, which occurred on a direct route to Germany, sparked panic onboard. A passenger sitting near the window reportedly risked being sucked out due to depressurization and was held back by fellow travelers.
Four people were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Three were later released, while one passenger remained under observation for further checks. According to initial reports, the man seated next to the window sustained minor injuries as well as a state of shock.
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Market reaction split between Ryanair and Boeing
Following the serious event, the airline and Boeing shares showed different reactions in financial markets. The airline’s stock, around 1 p.m. on July 10, was absorbing the news with stability, trading at 27.02 euros (+1.58%), supported by the crew’s quick response and the casualty-free landing.
Boeing’s stock, however, felt more pressure from the technical failure of the plane. On the NYSE it was trading in negative territory at $224 (-0.37%), under the weight of possible new investigations into safety and reliability of its structural components.
Ryanair says checks underway on cause of failure
The carrier confirmed the event and made another aircraft available to get passengers to their intended destination. It stated that the problem was handled according to established procedures and that investigations into the cause of the failure are ongoing.
Investigators are now focusing on the aircraft with registration 9H-QEU.
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According to FlightAware data, that plane the day before had flown from Thessaloniki to Sarajevo, then reversed course over North Macedonia and returned to the Greek airport.
It remains unclear whether the previous day’s return was linked to a similar technical problem or to another issue. Authorities are gathering information to reconstruct the sequence of events.
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Malta Air and Ryanair operating model under scrutiny
The episode draws attention to the operational model used by the Irish carrier through Malta Air, a group company that handles a significant portion of its fleet and routes. Aircraft maintenance and safety procedures will now be central to technical reviews.
This event bears some resemblance to the 2018 Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 accident, when a Boeing 737 engine blade failure caused a window to break and cabin depressurization.
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