Summary
On 17 October 2024, at 14:10 local time, a passenger fell while disembarking a Ryanair Boeing 737-8200 (registration EI-HAY) at Alicante airport in Spain. The aircraft had arrived from Oporto, Portugal. The passenger was the tenth person to exit via the forward integrated folding and retractable airstair. He fell from step number 4 to step number 10 (counted from the top), landing with his right leg extended forward. He was unable to stand and remained seated on the stairs.
Flight and Accident Details
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 (serial number 65079) manufactured in 2019, was operated by Ryanair. It carried 6 crew members and 177 passengers. All crew and 176 passengers were uninjured; the one passenger sustained a serious injury. Airport medical services diagnosed a possible fractured right ankle, and the passenger was transferred to a hospital for surgery. The aircraft sustained no damage.
Investigation and Findings
The investigation examined the conditions of the fall, ruling out weather, the passenger's physical condition, luggage, and the condition of the airstair. The geometric characteristics of the integrated airstair were reviewed. The probable cause was determined to be the loss of support of the passenger's right foot on the fourth step due to the geometrical characteristics of the airstair. Contributing factors included the absence of effective mitigation measures to address the fall risk inherent in the stair geometry and the potential that the passenger was not grasping the handrail.
Safety Recommendations
The report contains four safety recommendations addressed to Boeing, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Ryanair.