Crew Saves Pilot That Gets Sucked Out Of Plane Window

#1 The chances of being injured in a plane crash are so low that it makes aviophobia seem a little silly.

But then you hear the story of British Airways Flight 5390, and being afraid of flying starts to make a lot more sense.

#2 Captain Lancaster was flying from Birmingham, England, to Malaga, Spain back in June of 1990.

BA 5390 left Birmingham Airport at 7.20am, heading for Malaga in Spain. At the controls were Captain Tim Lancaster, 42, and his co-pilot, 39-year-old Alastair Atchison, both experienced flyers, and their takeoff was routine.

#3 The plane, a BAC 1-11, was carrying 81 passengers and four flight crew.

The plane took off without incident and was gaining altitude for 20 minutes when passengers heard an explosion.

#4 There was a loud bang in the cockpit, and the windscreen on the captain’s side blew out from its mooring, causing immediate decompression.

The cause of the disturbance was the left windscreen of the cockpit had separated from the plane.

#5 Both pilots had loosened their harnesses, and Lancaster was forcefully pulled toward the open window by the rush of air.

As a result of the malfunction, the pilot, Captain Timothy Lancaster, was ripped from his seat and sucked out of the missing cabin window.

#6 Luckily for him, his legs became stuck in the flight controls and he wasn’t lost forever.

Captain Lancaster was saved by the quick thinking of flight crew member Nigel Ogden, who happened to be on the flight deck. crew members were able to grab a hold of his belt and pants to hang onto him while he was hanging from the plane, being battered by the 300+ mph winds.

#7 Margaret Simmonds, a passenger on the plane, explained:

“I could see a body hanging out of the window, with two men and a woman hanging onto his legs. They were trying to stop him being sucked out.”

#8 Lancaster was treated for fractures to his right arm, left thumb and right wrist, as well as frostbite and shock.

Remarkably, he returned to work within five months.

#9 Flight attendant Nigel Ogden suffered a dislocated shoulder and frostbite to his face and eye.

He returned to work after a break but suffered post-traumatic stress and took early retirement in 2001. No-one else involved in the incident was injured.

#10 The malfunction of flight 5390 resulted in no fatalities at all.

#11 That fact alone is amazing, and it’s due to the quick thinking and ability of the crew.

#12 British Airways Spokesman Anthony Cocklin said:

“The crew was tremendous. We have nothing but praise for them. It was a tremendous example of alertness and we are very proud of them.”