Getting sucked out of an aeroplane sounds like the stuff of a nightmare but something like this happened when Captain Timothy Lancaster of British Airways Flight 5390 was partially ejected out of the cockpit due to faulty installation of cockpit windows. The incident took place on June 10, 1990, when the plane was flying from Birmingham to Málaga. When the flight was flying over Didcot, Oxfordshire, the cockpit window panes broke down and Lancaster was sucked out, with his torso pinned outside the plane and his legs inside the cockpit.
Flight attendant Nigel Ogden rushed to the cockpit and grabbed Lancaster’s legs, but despite his best efforts, Lancaster kept slipping out of the window due to the fast winds and mist blowing inside the cockpit. Another crew member then joined the effort to save the captain and held closely on to Ogden, who was able to strengthen his hold on the Captain’s ankles.
Meanwhile, co-pilot Alistair Atchinson took over the control and shouted “Mayday! Mayday!” into the radio, demanding permission for an emergency landing. Due to the heavy wind, he was unable to hear the control station’s commands. Many feared that if the plane did not land quickly the Captain might die due to low oxygen. His face was already badly injured.
In an excellent display of skill and teamwork, the plane managed to land at Southampton Airport with no casualties. Talking to Sydney Morning Herald, Ogden praised the co-pilot’s presence of mind and skill and said, “Alistair did the most amazing landing, what we call a greaser – completely smooth and stopping the aircraft only three-quarters of the way down the runway.” Ogden said that when he first saw the Captain on the stretcher, he heard him say, “I want to eat.” He recalled the heartwarming moment and said, “I went out onto the front steps, and shouted at the others “He’s alive!” and then I cried my eyes out.”
After the ordeal, Ogden suffered a dislocated shoulder, frostbitten face, and frostbite damage to his left eye. Captain Tim Lancaster suffered frostbite, fractures to his arm and wrist, and a broken thumb. He returned to duty five months after recovery. Ogden also returned to work but left the aviation industry due to PTSD. He now works at a Salvation Army hospital.
First Officer Alastair Atchison and crew members Susan Gibbins and Nigel Ogden were awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
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