In 1990, British Airways pilot Tim Lancaster experienced a harrowing event when the cockpit windshield blew out at 17,000 feet during a flight from Birmingham to Málaga, Spain, causing him to be partially sucked out of the aircraft.
His legs remained inside while the rest of his body was exposed to freezing air at high altitude. Flight attendant Nigel Ogden heroically grabbed Lancaster’s legs and held on for 20 minutes despite frostbite and injury, while co-pilot Alastair Atchison stabilized the plane and prepared for an emergency landing.
A second attendant, Simon Rogers, helped relieve Ogden. Passengers witnessed the terrifying scene as the crew worked to prevent Lancaster’s full ejection and bring the plane safely to Southampton Airport. Despite injuries including frostbite and fractures, Lancaster survived.
The incident, later featured on the show Mayday, highlighted the crew’s quick thinking and teamwork as well as the durability of the British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11 plane, which remained stable despite the windshield failure.
This extraordinary survival story showcases not only human resilience but also the engineering marvels that keep planes safe under extreme conditions.
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