Josh Funk

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that fragments from a fractured engine fan blade shattered a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 window, partially pulling a passenger out of the cabin during an emergency flight from Thessaloniki. Bird remains were found in the engine, and investigators noted four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine in the preceding year. The aircraft returned safely after losing cabin pressure, while a passenger suffered friction burns and neck and shoulder injuries. The NTSB said it had not excluded maintenance records or aircraft age from its inquiry and reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for publicly characterizing the investigation.

An NTSB investigation found that fragments from a fractured fan blade on the aircraft’s right engine shattered a passenger window and damaged the fuselage, partially pulling a 61-year-old passenger out of the cabin. Bird remains were found in the engine, and crews had reported four suspected bird strikes involving it during the previous year. The Ryanair-operated Boeing 737-800 returned safely to Thessaloniki after losing cabin pressure. The NTSB said it had not ruled out maintenance records or aircraft age as contributing factors and reprimanded Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary for publicly characterizing the investigation.

The Trump administration has proposed stricter English-proficiency and certification rules for Mexican train crews operating freight trains across the U.S. border. The proposal would require crews to understand safety information, limit their operations to no more than 10 miles inside the United States and prohibit reliance on cruise-control-like systems during certification tests. The initiative follows inspections at Union Pacific and CPKC facilities in Texas that found crews struggling with English-language operating bulletins, hazardous-material rules and emergency procedures. Rail unions support the measure, citing safety and job concerns, while the affected railroads are reviewing it.

Investigative documents reveal that UPS did not require detailed bearing inspections on its MD‑11 aircraft because Boeing had asserted the bearing flaw was not a flight‑safety risk, despite recommending enhanced inspections. The Louisville crash that killed 15 occurred after an engine detached during takeoff due to failure in the engine mount system. Boeing, UPS, the FAA and maintenance contractor STE San Antonio Aerospace are all cited as contributing to oversight failures. Boeing had previously secured an extension of inspection intervals even after multiple reports of bearing defects. After the crash, MD‑11 operators conducted extensive inspections, with future bearing replacements mandated every 4,000 cycles. FedEx resumed MD‑11 operations under updated safety measures, while UPS retired its MD‑11 fleet early.