If you’ve ever endured a bad flight, spare a thought for a 64-year-old man in France who accidentally ejected himself from a fighter plane after grabbing onto an exit handle in terror.
The (civilian) defence executive had received the flight experience in March last year as a gift from co-workers but was so shaken by the 3.7g force and 500 km/h speed of the jet, that he couldn’t remain in his seat and hit the handle, exiting the plane at 400 metres.
Thankfully his parachute was activated during the fall and the man landed safely in a field with no serious injuries.
An investigative report, published this month, blames the incident on a number of factors including that medical warnings that the man wasn’t fit for such an experience were ignored; and loose-fitting seat straps.
Legal investigations are ongoing, but we’re guessing the man is keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground from now on.
