If you ever find yourself stressed out inside a fighter jet, thousands of feet in the air, it's important never to grasp at random levers in your fear.
Otherwise you might find yourself just as stressed, OUTSIDE the fighter jet, thousands of feet in the air.
A 64-year-old unnamed Frenchman learned this lesson the hard way during a surprise work outing. On the morning of the incident, he was surprised with a company trip to a nearby air force base.
Once there, the 64-year-old's fellow employees let him know they had arranged for him to take a ride in a Dassault Rafale B fighter jet.
A 64-year-old man accidentally hit the eject button during a fighter jet joyride ๐ณ https://t.co/X7OKosG5OEโ SB Nation (@SB Nation)1586814633.0
Police later determined the man had never expressed any particular interest in riding in a fighter jet, and became visibly distraught when he found out he was about to do so.
@SBNation ride of his lifeโ Matt Meyerson (@Matt Meyerson)1586814814.0
Thanks to a special watch the man was wearing, police also determined that the 64-year-old's "heart was in full tachycardia," with a heart rate of 136 to 142, long before he entered the plane.
@SBNation This year has me looking for the eject button too.โ Burrow Owl aka Quarantino Martinez (@Burrow Owl aka Quarantino Martinez)1586836930.0
Demonstrating profound bravery, the man entered the jet despite his fear and rode along as the pilot performed a "three-plane training exercise."
Simpsons did it https://t.co/Kmq5CPVK9E https://t.co/wlYanTBpRWโ SB Nation (@SB Nation)1586820631.0
In a moment of fear, as the plane began to gain altitude, the 64-year-old passenger wildly grasped at something to hold onto and accidentally grabbed at the ejector mechanism.
How do you accidentally eject yourself out of a fighter jet?โ Sean Woolbright (@Sean Woolbright)1586817253.0
The mechanism was fully operational.
Moments later, the 64-year-old was plummeting towards the ground.
Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety
@johntdrake I'm writing this into my will. "In the event my 'friends' surprise me with a flight on a military jet aโฆ https://t.co/VeM8QGG6xjโ ยป Holly! (@ยป Holly!)1586836727.0
Fortunately, the man's parachute deployed and he landed without major injury in a nearby field despite the fact that his helmet was not properly secured and flew off during his fall.
@hvtiaf Isn't this a story of sheer incompetence that has had a lucky ending?โ shiv (@shiv)1586421384.0
The pilot managed to remain in the aircraft and land it without incident, incurring only minor facial injuries after his temporary co-pilot was ejected.
@jaydestro Poor guy though. He never expressed any interest in this kind of stuff and freaked out :(โ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆโพ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ซ๐/๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ค/๐๐๐ฅ๐ค (@๐๐ฎ๐ฆโพ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ซ๐/๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ค/๐๐๐ฅ๐ค)1586810309.0
The man is now recovering in a hospital, but Twitter will be talking about the incident for years to come.
@johntdrake Will you still need me Will you still eject me from a fighter jet When Iโm 64?โ Dan Stapleton (@Dan Stapleton)1586836035.0
This story should be giving a lot of people ideas for what NOT to give their loved ones on their birthdays this year.
Let's keep our feet on the ground unless you really do want to take a ride in a jet.