Ryanair Boeing 737-800 Engine Pod Strike Undetected for 24 Hours at Faro

January 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM•3 min read

Ryanair Boeing 737-800 suffered an engine pod strike landing at Faro, with the significant damage reportedly going undetected for approximately 24 hours.

Key Points

1Ryanair Boeing 737-800 (EI-ENG) suffered an engine pod strike during landing at Faro Airport on November 15, 2025.
2The damage went undetected for approximately 24 hours, during which the aircraft completed four additional flight sectors.
3The incident highlights the challenge of detecting subtle damage on the low-clearance Boeing 737-800 nacelle during routine visual inspections.
4The airline initiated an internal review and enhanced post-event inspection protocols to address the lapse in maintenance detection.

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 experienced an engine pod strike during landing at Faro Airport (FAO), Portugal. The damage reportedly went undetected for about 24 hours. This serious aviation safety incident occurred on November 15, 2025.

Incident Details

The aircraft, registered EI-ENG, was performing flight FR-5139 from Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Faro. The crew landed on runway 28 at Faro airport. The initial touchdown was firm, but the left main gear briefly bounced. This movement caused a right-wing-low bank angle. During this bank, the No. 2 (right) engine nacelle contacted the runway surface.

Post-landing data showed a vertical acceleration of 1.69G. This reading was below the manufacturer's threshold for a mandatory hard landing inspection. The flight crew assessed the landing as routine. They did not report any anomalies in the aircraft systems.

Undetected Aircraft Damage

The damage undetected period is a major concern. The Ryanair Boeing 737-800 continued scheduled operations. It completed four additional sectors across November 15 and 16. Pre-flight walkarounds by flight crews failed to identify the issue. Engineering personnel also missed the damage during a ramp inspection. The abrasion was on the lower nacelle surface. This location made it difficult to see during standard visual checks. The damage was finally discovered approximately 24 hours after the occurrence. The aircraft was immediately declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG). It remained out of service until November 22, 2025, for necessary repairs.

Maintenance and Safety Protocols

This event highlights challenges in aircraft maintenance protocols. Post-landing inspections are a critical safety step. They ensure the aircraft remains safe and airworthy. EASA regulations require airlines to perform specific maintenance tasks. These checks ensure compliance and timely detection of problems. The Boeing 737-800 family has limited ground clearance. This design factor makes subtle engine pod strikes difficult to detect.

Industry Response and Impact

Ryanair launched an internal review following the EI-ENG flight FR-5139 incident. They implemented mitigation measures. These focus on flare technique and bounce recovery procedures. Enhanced post-event inspection protocols were also introduced. The incident underscores the risk of undetected aircraft damage. All defects, including sub-surface issues, must be found. This focus is essential for continuing airworthiness. The safety of commercial aviation news relies on strict adherence to these rules. For more updates on this and other industry events, visit our commercial aviation news section at flying.flights.

Regulators like EASA continuously adapt their framework. This ensures safety standards are met as the industry evolves.