A pensioner who was a ride in a jet as a gift accidentally ejected himself from the aircraft mid-flight, after trying to ‘steady himself’.
The story is part of a report released by the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, a French governmental agency that investigates aviation accidents. The report details how the 64-year-old pensioner had been bought the trip as part of a retirement present.
However, after panicking during the flight and screaming out of fear, the man accidentally grabbed the ejector seat handle and shot out of the the £70 million Dassault Rafale B fighter jet at high speed.
The 64 year old’s parachute opened and he landed safely in a field near where France borders with Germany, he suffered only minor injuries.
According to the report, the flight had been organised by the French Air Force at the request of the Defence Ministry, and the elderly passenger had never expressed any wish to take the flight, saying he had been pressured to take part in the experience.
The report went on to say:
“The need to keep the surprise until the moment of the flight had hugely risky consequences, especially as regards preparation for the flight.”
“Faced with a fait accompli on the day of the flight, it was very difficult for him to refuse to participate in the flight.”
“This situation generated a feeling of stress for the passenger, and this was particularly felt during the ejection seat briefing where he had to assimilate a large amount of information in a very short time.”
“In addition, the stress of surprise has been magnified by the complete lack of military aviation experience.”
“The passenger said he had a complete lack of knowledge of the aeronautical environment and its constraints, having never flown on a military aircraft.”
The report also says that the passenger had expected a gentle assent, but was shaken as the jet sharply ‘climbed at 47 degrees’.
This climb is said to have caused the pensioner to panic and grab hold something within the aircraft to keep himself steady, however, he accidentally pulled on the ejector seat handle, causing him to be launched out of the jet; the force of which ripped his mask and oxygen mask from his face and took his helmet off of his head.
The full ejection system is supposed to send both the pilot and the passenger into the air, but luckily the pilot remained seated in the aircraft and was able to safely land the plane, while remaining ‘in control of the situation’.
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