In an unusual accident, a civilian passenger was ejected from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet of the French Air Force as the aircraft was taking off on Wednesday, reported AeroTime.
A spokesperson for the French Air Force told the media, the passenger “did not belong to the Ministry of the Armed Forces” and was participating in an “information flight.”
The spokesperson added the passenger's injuries were not life-threatening.
The pilot of the Rafale was able to take control of the aircraft when the canopy snapped off during the ejection process and landed the jet without incident. The pilot sustained injuries to his hands due to glass debris.
The passenger, 64, was "hospitalized and is in stable condition," said the French newspaper. The man's back sustained trauma following the hard impact when the ejection seat landed on the ground.I wonder if he was a politician.
Ouest-France, a French newspaper, quoted an Air Force spokesperson as saying an ejection seat accident on a Rafale has never happened. So, was monsieur fiddling with the levers and buttons, like he shouldn't have been, and managed to ignite the seat himself? Oui, you bet he was.
Normally you "meet your maker in a Martin Baker (ejection seat)", but this passenger on a joy ride did not. He should buy a lottery ticket when he's released from the hospital.
ReplyDeleteSince the passenger was obviously negligent, he should be held liable for all medical expenses incurred by himself and/or the pilot, and for any or all necessary repairs to the aircraft.
ReplyDeleteThe passenger, 64, was "hospitalized and is in stable condition," said the French newspaper. The man's back sustained trauma following the hard impact when the ejection seat landed on the ground.I wonder if he was a politician.
ReplyDeleteNo. If he was a politician, when he landed on his butt he would have sustained a skull fracture. At least a concussion.