Ryanair Blade Cleared in Inspection Before In-Flight Failure

An NTSB preliminary report found that a fan blade which broke on a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 flight from Thessaloniki on 10 July — shattering a cabin window and partially ejecting passenger Ljubisa Karović — had passed ultrasonic inspection in May with no findings. Investigators must now determine whether damage accrued after inspection or whether a defect fell below detection thresholds. The answer carries potential fleet-wide implications for CFM56 engine maintenance protocols.