BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated on Wednesday that it has not ruled out age or maintenance issues in the ongoing investigation of a Boeing 737 NG incident, in which a passenger was partially sucked out of a broken window.
The NTSB’s statement contradicts Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, who earlier claimed that an initial probe indicated “foreign object damage” and was not related to the aircraft’s age or servicing.
In a letter to O’Leary, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy clarified: “The NTSB has not made any such determination.” She added that the CEO’s public comments violated the agency’s disclosure rules for parties involved in an investigation. Ryanair has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
