According to a study published by Italy’s National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV), Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft featuring retractable onboard stairs present a significantly higher passenger fall risk during boarding and disembarkation compared to traditional airport-provided stairways. The investigation analyzed 104 incidents in Italy between 2023 and 2025, revealing that 85 of those cases—amounting to 82%—involved passengers utilizing the airline’s forward integrated stairs, as reported by Corriere della Sera.
Boeing 737 Integrated Stairway Dimensions and Design Limits
The safety data highlights distinct architectural factors contributing to the hazard. Ryanair’s Boeing 737 model includes an optional integrated system deployed while parked, allowing travelers to exit without ground handlers to cut turnaround times and operational costs. The stairway features 12 steps measuring approximately 61 centimeters wide and 20 centimeters high, with a tread depth of 25 centimeters and an inclination of 35 degrees.
According to the ANSV investigation, these dimensions sit strictly at the limits for step height and steepness. By comparison, standard mobile stairs operated by airport handlers typically feature lower steps, less pronounced inclination, and considerably larger platforms and treads. Furthermore, the ANSV notes that the first step is asymmetrical for passengers descending because of the fuselage shape relative to the step.
Pro Tip: Aviation safety investigators recommend maintaining three points of contact and holding onto the handrail while navigating aircraft stairs, as regulatory bodies note that integrated steps are not legally classified as critical flight operations equipment under current EU rules.
Comparative Incident Data Across European Fleets
The statistical disparity becomes stark when measured against total flight volume. Over the 2023 to 2025 observation window, Ryanair carried roughly 27% of all airline passengers in Italy. Meanwhile, all other operating carriers combined—accounting for the remaining 73% of passenger traffic—recorded just 19 falls total on airport-managed equipment.
This trend extends well beyond Italian borders. Since 2021, Ryanair has logged 489 falls on stairs system-wide. Of those, 360 incidents—representing 73%—occurred on the Boeing 737 integrated stairway. According to the ANSV, this rate translates to three times as many falls as those recorded on standard airport stairways. Safety authorities track these occurrences using the ECCAIRS system, a digital platform operated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to centralize EU aviation safety metrics.
Regulatory Responses and Airline Protocol Updates
Investigations by Ireland’s air accident investigation unit (AAIU) and Spain’s CIAIAC previously examined similar incidents following falls in Dublin in 2021 and Alicante in 2024. Following the Alicante event, the Spanish safety agency formally urged Boeing to redesign the stairway to reduce steepness and expand step surface areas. CIAIAC additionally called on Ryanair to abandon the integrated system entirely in favor of airport-operated stairs.
While no official investigation has declared the hardware defective, the ANSV has formally endorsed the Spanish recommendations directed at Boeing and Ryanair. Investigators attribute the root cause of many falls to human factors. For instance, an incident in Genoa on March 22, 2025—which resulted in a passenger being transported to the hospital by ambulance—was classified by the ANSV as most likely due to passenger inattention. Similar factors were noted in Venice and Bologna, where injured travelers were documented carrying multiple bags while failing to use the handrail.
In response to these findings, Ryanair updated its disembarkation protocols. Since July 23, cabin crew members have repeated safety warnings instructing passengers to utilize the handrail, broadcasting the guidance in both the language of the flight’s origin and its destination.
Did You Know? Ireland’s AAIU notes that current European Union regulations do not enforce specific size requirements for integrated aircraft stairs because regulators categorize them as ground equipment rather than critical flight operations items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Ryanair’s integrated stairs considered more dangerous than airport stairs?
According to the ANSV, the integrated stairs on Boeing 737 aircraft are steeper, feature narrower treads and higher steps, and include an asymmetrical first step due to the fuselage shape compared to wider, lower airport-managed stairs.
How many falls have been recorded on Ryanair’s integrated stairs?
Since 2021, Ryanair has registered 360 falls on the Boeing 737 integrated stairway, accounting for 73% of the 489 total stair falls recorded by the airline over that period, according to aviation safety data.
What actions have safety regulators taken regarding the Boeing 737 stairs?
Spain’s CIAIAC and Italy’s ANSV have recommended that Boeing redesign the stairway to reduce steepness and increase step surface area, and urged airlines to rely on airport-provided stairs.
Have regulators declared the stairs mechanically defective?
No. Investigations by aviation safety agencies have not concluded that the stairway system is mechanically defective, instead attributing incidents primarily to human factors such as passenger inattention and failure to use handrails.
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