The Pilot Who Was Nearly Sucked From a Jet at 17,000 Feet — and Lived to Tell the Tale
In one of the most unbelievable survival stories in aviation history, British Airways pilot Tim Lancaster endured an unimaginable ordeal when his cockpit windshield shattered mid-flight in 1990 — nearly pulling him completely out of the plane.
The terrifying event unfolded as Flight 5390 soared over Oxfordshire, en route from Birmingham to Málaga. At roughly 17,000 feet, the windshield on the BAC 1-11 aircraft suddenly blew out with a deafening roar. In a split second, Captain Lancaster was ripped from his seat and partially ejected through the gaping hole, his torso flailing in the icy wind outside the aircraft.
Quick-thinking flight attendant Nigel Ogden leapt into action, managing to grab hold of Lancaster’s legs as the captain’s body was pinned against the fuselage by the forceful airflow. For 20 agonizing minutes, Ogden held on, suffering frostbite and injuries in the process.
Meanwhile, co-pilot Alastair Atchison, now alone at the controls, managed to descend the plane and initiate emergency protocols. Another flight attendant, Simon Rogers, stepped in to support Ogden as they worked together to keep their captain from being completely pulled out.
Passengers watched in horror, but the teamwork of the crew paid off. The plane safely touched down at Southampton Airport, and against all odds, Lancaster survived — albeit with a fractured arm, broken ribs, and severe frostbite.
The near-tragedy, later dramatized in an episode of Mayday, highlighted the courage of the flight crew and the structural resilience of the aircraft. Most remarkably, it underscored how sheer human determination can defy even the most extreme conditions.
This story remains a testament to heroic action, composure under pressure, and the strength of the human will — even at 17,000 feet.