Plane passenger accidentally activates ejector seat

[snopes]

A civilian passenger in an air force display plane accidentally activated the ejector seat while reaching for something to steady himself during a mid-air manoeuvre.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-survives.html

[Eddylizard]

Experts said the man was lucky to escape unharmed following the bizarre incident, which happened on Wednesday in South Africa.

Assuming it happened, isn't the point of an ejector seat to escape the aircraft unharmed?

(Yes I know that the use of an ejector seat does in fact carry risks, which the pilot has to balance against the risk of plunging into the groung at mach something.)

[Ravenhull]

Well, in this case I think they are referring to the fact that pilots are trained to, when operating the seat, to sit in a specific position and bracing themselves. A person leaning forward or with their arms not pulled in tight could easily lose an extremity, to include their noggin.

[Floater]

The same thing happened once in Sweden when a visiting Belgian pilot wanted to adjust his seat belt whilst on a tour with a schooling plane that the Belgian air force was interested in buying.

[htonl]

To further answer Eddylizard's question:

One retired air force pilot instructor said the man, who would have been wearing flight kit and a helmet, was lucky to have escaped serious injury during the ejection process.

The retired instructor added: "All it takes is for the firing handle to be pulled up about 2,5cm and you're on your way out.

"You get one almighty kick under the backside and then you're gone.

"The seat separates from the pilot automatically and the chute opens. This is in case the pilot is incapacitated during the ejection.

"We train for this and if you don't get it right, and are not in the correct ejection posture, you can sustain severe spinal cord injuries or even worse."

Man accidentally ejects himself from plane

[AnglRdr]

That's what killed Goose, by the way. So just think about that.

[Beejtronic]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

That's what killed Goose, by the way. So just think about that.

Aw, man. I was just coming in here to go, "GOOOOOOSE!! "

[AnglRdr]

Originally Posted by Beejtronic

Aw, man. I was just coming in here to go, "GOOOOOOSE!! "

We can commisserate together, okay? I feel his loss at the most unexpected times.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Assuming it happened, isn't the point of an ejector seat to escape the aircraft unharmed?

Take out the last word in that sentence and it will be accurate.