Fighter jet crash averted by defect in civil ejection incident

Incredible hubris and stupidity on the part lf many of the people involved, both the desk jockeys and flight support crew. The pilot did a great job in the cockpit, but a terrible job being aware of the state of his passenger -- someone who is entrusted with the power to unilaterally eject the pilot and crash the plane.

Wow the pilot deserves most of the blame here. I have done many pax flights in ejection seat aircraft.

- Pilot did not brief the passenger on where to place hands in cockpit to grab (normally there is something safe to hold onto). It is well known they grab for anything instinctively when inverted or negative g, including ejection handle. - Command ejection lever remained on. This is what allows rear seat occupant to eject both. You never leave this on for pax for this exact reason. It’s lucky the command system broke. - Didn’t ensure pax fully strapped in and ready. Seriously wtf. Helmet not even on properly. Straps not tight enough. - Didn’t brief pax on what to expect or flight path. - And most importantly respect pax wishes and go easy. Unless they are pax on an operational mission that requires heavy manoeuvres you do what is comfortable for them otherwise it’s just plain abuse. They are happy just to be airborne with more than an airline window to look at stuff.

Sounds like amateur hour.

I love stories where absolutely everything goes wrong, lessons are learned, and at the end of the day everyone goes home safe.

It might have been a big surprise for the pilot, he's taking of for a training mission and BLAM the canopy explodes and his passenger is ejected.

But there was an important series of failing on many people involved.

I understand why the protocol is to dump the jet fuel, but also that just feels like an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen.

If people do not lose their jobs over this, I'll be mad. Gross negligence by many people.