NTSB Warns Ryanair CEO O'Leary Over Early Comments on Malta 737 Depressurization

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has publicly rebuked Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary for making premature statements about the cause of a depressurization incident involving a Boeing 737 operating near Malta.

The NTSB, which is assisting with the probe, took issue with O'Leary's early public comments attributing the incident to foreign object damage before investigators completed their work. According to the agency, such statements risk influencing the investigation and misleading the public before officials confirm the facts.

What Happened on the Flight

The incident involved a Ryanair Boeing 737 that suffered a window-related depressurization event, prompting the crew to descend and divert. No passengers or crew sustained serious injuries, but the event triggered a formal safety investigation given the nature of the damage and the aircraft type involved.

Because the aircraft is a US-manufactured Boeing, the NTSB joined the inquiry alongside European authorities. Under international aviation rules, the state of manufacture typically participates in investigations of this kind, working with the state where the operator is based and the state where the incident occurred.

Why the NTSB Pushed Back

Shortly after the incident, O'Leary spoke publicly about what he believed may have caused the depressurization, saying, “Initial indication would suggest it looks like foreign object damage to the engine on takeoff at Thessaloniki, but we don't have, we can't say that definitively.” While he emphasized that the cause had not been confirmed, he pointed to foreign object damage as the most likely explanation. The NTSB objected to those remarks, arguing that operators and other parties to an investigation should not release information about probable cause while the inquiry remains open.

The agency's guidelines require parties involved in an investigation to coordinate any public statements with the lead investigative body. Releasing conclusions early, the NTSB says, can compromise the accuracy of the final report and create confusion among passengers, regulators, and the wider industry.

This is not the first time the NTSB has issued such a warning to a party in a probe. The agency has previously reminded manufacturers, airlines, and unions that speculating on causes before the investigation concludes violates the terms under which they participate.
 

O'Leary's Track Record

O'Leary is known across the aviation industry for direct and often provocative public statements. He regularly comments on issues ranging from air traffic control performance to aircraft manufacturers' delivery schedules. His willingness to speak candidly has built Ryanair's public profile but has also drawn criticism from regulators and industry peers.

In this case, his remarks appeared to preempt the formal investigative process. By naming a specific cause before the NTSB and other agencies concluded their technical review, O'Leary drew the agency's attention and a formal warning.
 

How Aviation Investigations Work

Air accident investigations follow procedures set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under Annex 13. These rules assign clear roles to the state of occurrence, the state of registry, the state of the operator, and the state of manufacture.

Parties invited to participate, including airlines and manufacturers, receive access to evidence and preliminary findings on the condition that they do not disclose information without authorization. Breaching that agreement can result in a party losing access to the investigation.

The NTSB's warning to Ryanair signals that the agency views O'Leary's comments as a serious departure from those norms. It also puts other executives on notice that public speculation during active investigations can carry consequences.

Ryanair's Position

Ryanair has not indicated that it will change its approach to public communication in response to the NTSB warning. The airline has previously defended O'Leary's habit of addressing operational issues directly, arguing that transparency benefits passengers and shareholders.

Whether the carrier will adjust its statements about ongoing safety investigations remains to be seen. The airline continues to operate one of the largest Boeing 737 fleets in the world and has significant orders for the 737 MAX family, making its relationship with US regulators and manufacturers important to its long-term plans.

What is Next

Investigators will continue examining the aircraft, its maintenance records, and the damaged window to determine what caused the depressurization. A preliminary report typically appears within 30 days of an incident, with a final report following months later depending on the complexity of the case.

Until then, the NTSB has made clear that it expects parties to the investigation, including Ryanair, to refrain from public speculation. The agency's warning to O'Leary underscores how seriously it treats the boundaries between operator communication and formal safety findings.

For passengers, the incident is a reminder that even routine flights can experience serious technical events, and that the process of understanding what went wrong takes time. The NTSB's response also shows that investigative bodies will push back when they believe those procedures are being circumvented, regardless of who is doing the talking.