On this date in 1990, the captain of British Airways Flight 5390 was partially sucked out of the aircraft when the windshield of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) One-Eleven 528FL blew out as the aircraft was climbing through ~17,000 feet while en route to Málaga, Spain out of Birmingham, England. The aircraft was carrying 87 passengers and crew. The wind shield had been replaced after the prior flight however the securing bolts failed under the cabin pressure.
Capt. Tim Lancaster and his crew - Source: http://goo.gl/hXQot
Coming to rest on the nose cone, Captain Tim Lancaster, severely injured, was restrained by crew members who held on to his ankles until the first officer landed aircraft ~15 minutes later. The captain and crew members who rescued him suffered frost bite, and various traumatic injuries. Captain Lancaster returned to service, retired from British Airways, and was flying for EastJet as of 2005.
The shift manager of the maintenance facility was held accountable for failure to use proper and standard practices in installing the new wind shield.
Sources
http://goo.gl/A0v7n
http://goo.gl/K5zz8
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Steven Kuhr
Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History
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I remember that.... what a freak and frightening event!
ReplyDeleteI have been on small planes in recent years in the USA where there appears to be more than half of the bolts needed on the wings missing making the plane shake. Because there were so few passengers we were asked to sit in the centre in order to balance the weight in the plane. One passenger prayed with her rosary beads the entire trip. The trip was a little unnerving. There are many planes still in use which in my opinion should be retired and not repaired. When repairs are done with duck tape on the interior greet you holding pieces of the plane together one does become a little apprehensive about their safety.
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