The Incredible Story of the British Airways Pilot Who Survived Being Sucked Out of a Plane for 20 Minutes
It sounds like something from a movie, but the extraordinary story of British Airways Flight 5390 really happened.
On June 10, 1990, the BAC 1-11 was flying from Birmingham to Málaga when, at around 17,300 feet, a cockpit windscreen panel suddenly separated from the aircraft. The resulting explosive decompression pulled Captain Tim Lancaster partially out of the cockpit. (ABC News)
✈️ A Nightmare at 17,000 Feet
The force of the decompression was so powerful that Lancaster’s upper body was forced through the missing windscreen.
Remarkably, his legs became caught inside the cockpit, preventing him from being completely ejected.
Flight attendant Nigel Ogden, who had just entered the cockpit, immediately grabbed Lancaster and held on. Other crew members soon joined the effort while co-pilot Alastair Aitchison took control of the aircraft. (ABC News)
🧑✈️ The Co-Pilot Had to Take Over
The windscreen failure caused the aircraft to lose cabin pressure, and the autopilot disengaged.
Aitchison had to stabilize the aircraft and make an emergency landing while the crew fought to keep Lancaster from being pulled completely away.
The aircraft eventually landed safely at Southampton Airport.
The entire ordeal lasted roughly 20 minutes. (ABC News)
🥶 How Did Lancaster Survive?
Lancaster suffered serious injuries, including fractures and frostbite, as well as shock.
Yet he survived.
Even more remarkably, he eventually recovered and returned to flying.
The investigation later found that the windscreen had been fitted with incorrectly sized bolts, contributing to its failure. The incident became an important aviation safety lesson about maintenance and inspection procedures. (The US Sun)
❤️ A Story of Extraordinary Teamwork
Lancaster’s survival wasn’t simply a matter of luck.
It involved the quick thinking of the flight crew, the determination of the cabin crew members who held onto him, and the skill of the co-pilot who managed to land the damaged aircraft safely.
What happened aboard Flight 5390 remains one of aviation’s most astonishing survival stories.
A pilot was partially outside his aircraft at 17,000 feet—and 20 minutes later, he was alive. ✈️❤️