Ryanair’s leadership has issued statements affirming the safety of its aircraft operations following a mid-flight incident this month involving a Boeing 737. The incident occurred on a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece to Memmingen, Germany, when engine failure caused parts to damage an acrylic window. A 61-year-old passenger was partially pulled from the aircraft but was rescued by his wife and two other passengers, who collectively pulled him back inside the cabin.
Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s group chief financial officer, praised the response of the airline’s crew and pilots, noting that all passengers and crew members safely returned to the ground when the aircraft diverted back to Thessaloniki. Sorahan stated that the airline’s customer care team has remained in contact with the passenger’s family since the incident. He indicated that questions regarding potential compensation would be premature pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The US National Transportation Safety Board has assumed leadership of the investigation, which Sorahan said Ryanair welcomes. The airline stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation process. Sorahan emphasized that neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has mandated operational changes to Ryanair’s fleet, and he highlighted that Boeing 737 aircraft have accumulated hundreds of millions of flight hours globally with strong safety records.
During the same statement, Sorahan addressed broader operational concerns facing the airline, including impacts from geopolitical tensions and new EU entry procedures. He noted that bookings remain strong despite Middle East conflict escalation. Separately, Ryanair reported that profits after tax declined 34% to €538 million in the three months ending June, primarily attributable to doubled jet fuel prices linked to regional instability. Passenger numbers increased 6% year-on-year to 61.3 million, though average fares declined 6% during the period.
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