(KRAKOW, POLAND) — If you flew Ryanair out of Krakow this month, here’s why a simple cockpit hardware failure matters: a detached sun visor reportedly triggered a Boeing 737 MAX in-flight engine shutdown, and investigators are now digging into how it happened.
The incident occurred on December 8, 2025, on Ryanair flight FR-3505 from Krakow (KRK) to Milan Bergamo (BGY). The flight was operated by Malta Air under a wet-lease arrangement, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as 9H-VUE. Departure was around 06:25 local time.
Shortly after takeoff, at roughly 8,000 feet over Poland, the crew stopped the climb and declared “PAN PAN,” which signals urgency but not immediate danger. One of the two CFM LEAP-1B engines had shut down in flight. The crew leveled at about 10,000 feet, worked the checklist, and successfully restarted the engine. The flight continued to Milan and landed safely about 90 minutes after departure. No injuries were reported.
What makes this event unusual is the alleged chain of events in the cockpit. Investigators were told that the cockpit sun visor detached from its high-forward mount, then struck an engine start lever on the center pedestal. That lever was reportedly moved to “CUTOFF,” interrupting fuel supply and causing the shutdown.
The Maltese Bureau of Air Accident Investigation (BAAI) has classified the event as an incident and opened a probe. As of late December 2025, it has not released a public report. The aircraft reportedly remained on the ground in Milan for about 50 hours before returning to service.
What we know so far
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight | Ryanair FR-3505 (operated by Malta Air, wet-lease) |
| Date | December 8, 2025 |
| Route | Krakow (KRK) → Milan Bergamo (BGY) |
| Aircraft | Boeing 737-8 MAX (9H-VUE) |
| Phase of flight | Climb, around 8,000 feet |
| Declaration | PAN PAN |
| Outcome | Engine restarted in flight; safe landing; no injuries |
| Post-flight | Aircraft grounded about 50 hours |
Safety context and technical questions
A single-engine event on a twinjet is exactly the scenario airliners are certified and trained for. The 737 MAX, like the 737NG and Airbus A320 family, must meet strict requirements for safe single-engine flight and landing.
Still, an in-flight shutdown is rare, and any “uncommanded” cockpit interaction gets attention fast.
Aviation specialists have also questioned the mechanics described, since sun visors sit high near the windshield, while the engine start levers sit much lower on the pedestal. Those levers are also gated, meaning they are designed to resist casual bumps.
The investigation will focus on:
– Whether the visor was the direct cause, a contributing factor, or a red herring
– Maintenance history of the aircraft and the specific visor assembly
– Cockpit procedures and human factors (including how the crew responded)
– Possible design or installation issues with visor mounts or lever gating
Ryanair did not publicly answer detailed questions in the days after the event, and the BAAI has not yet published findings.
PAN PAN vs. MAYDAY: why the wording matters to travelers
| Call | What it means | What you may notice as a passenger |
|---|---|---|
| PAN PAN | Urgent situation, not immediate distress | Level-off, holding, and a calm cabin briefing |
| MAYDAY | Distress and immediate danger | Priority landing, possible emergency services on arrival |
What this means for your next booking
For most travelers, the big takeaway is not “avoid the 737 MAX.” A safe landing with a restart shows training and system resilience working as intended.
The more practical angle is what happens to your trip when an aircraft gets delayed, swapped, or held for inspection. Even when an incident ends safely, it can ripple into schedule disruption. Aircraft downtime, like this jet’s reported 50-hour ground time, can force last-minute aircraft substitutions or cascading delays across a tightly scheduled low-cost operation.
Practical planning tips:
– Build buffer time if you have a same-day connection, cruise, or paid tour.
– Avoid the last flight of the day if you can’t afford an overnight delay.
– Keep essentials in your personal item, since gate-checking can happen during swaps.
💡 Build buffer time for tight connections or prepaid plans, and pack essentials (chargers, meds, a fresh shirt) in an under-seat bag to hedge against last‑minute substitutions or delays.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re taking an early departure like FR-3505, pack chargers, meds, and a fresh shirt in your under-seat bag. It’s the fastest hedge against irregular operations.
Loyalty and points angle: where you can still “earn” from disruption
Ryanair doesn’t run a traditional frequent flyer program, so you won’t be chasing elite credit or mileage earnings the way you would with legacy carriers.
Your best points play is the credit card you use to book:
– Use a card that earns 2–5x points on travel to still get value from a cheap fare.
– Trip delay coverage can reimburse meals and hotels after qualifying delays.
– Baggage delay coverage matters if you checked a bag on a tight itinerary.
Separately, travelers departing the EU are protected by EC261 rules when conditions are met. For flights under 1,500 km, compensation can be €250 per passenger for long delays or cancellations tied to issues within the airline’s control. An incident-driven maintenance delay can qualify, but each case turns on facts and timing.
Competitive context: how this stacks up
In-flight engine shutdowns happen across the industry, including on Airbus and Boeing fleets. What differentiates carriers for consumers is how quickly they recover operationally.
- Network airlines often have more spare aircraft and rebooking options, including partner reroutes.
- Ultra-low-cost carriers typically have fewer backups and rely on point-to-point flying.
🔔 Check flight status the night before and on departure morning, especially after reports of maintenance or aircraft swaps, to avoid missing connections or prepaid plans.
That means the “best” airline after an incident is often the one that can rebook you fastest. If you’re traveling during peak dates, a nonstop on a low-cost carrier can still be the right call, but you should price in the cost of flexibility.
If you’re booked on a 737 MAX soon, the smart move is simple: check your flight status the night before and again on departure morning, and give yourself extra time if a tight connection or prepaid plans depend on an on-time arrival.
A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8 experienced a partial engine failure during climb-out from Krakow when a loose sun visor reportedly hit a fuel control lever. The pilots managed to restart the engine and complete the flight to Milan safely. Authorities are now investigating the incident to determine if cockpit hardware design or maintenance contributed to this highly unusual mechanical interference.
