A BAC One-Eleven captain was partially ejected through a faulty windscreen at cruising altitude but survived, exposing critical risks in aircraft maintenance certification.
Key Facts
- Date of incident
- 10 June 1990
- Aircraft type
- BAC One-Eleven
- Route
- Birmingham Airport to Málaga Airport
- Captain held outside aircraft
- 20 minutes
- Location of decompression
- Over Didcot, England
- Emergency landing site
- Southampton Airport
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A windscreen panel on the BAC One-Eleven had been improperly installed prior to the flight, using incorrect fasteners. This maintenance error left the panel structurally unsound, unable to withstand the pressure differential at cruising altitude.
On 10 June 1990, while the aircraft flew over Didcot, England, the faulty windscreen panel separated from its frame, causing explosive decompression. The sudden outward force partially ejected Captain Tim Lancaster through the opening, leaving him pinned against the exterior of the fuselage.
Cabin crew held Captain Lancaster in place through the window frame for approximately 20 minutes while the first officer conducted an emergency landing at Southampton Airport. Lancaster survived with serious injuries. The incident prompted significant reviews of aircraft maintenance certification and quality control procedures.