On June 10, 1990, British Airways Flight 5390, en route from Birmingham to Málaga, experienced a freak accident mid-air that would go down as one of aviation’s most extraordinary survival stories. The plane’s captain was nearly killed when the cockpit windscreen blew out at 17,300 feet—yet he lived to tell the tale.
The Incident
At 08:33 a.m., just 13 minutes after takeoff, a loud bang startled the crew and passengers. The left windshield of the cockpit had blown out due to a sudden decompression. Captain Tim Lancaster, 42, was instantly sucked halfway out of the aircraft, his upper body exposed to freezing wind and high-altitude turbulence.
Cabin crew member Nigel Ogden, standing nearby, rushed into the cockpit and grabbed the captain’s belt. With help from two other stewards, John Heward and Simon Rogers, they managed to hold onto Lancaster’s legs and keep him from being fully ejected.
“I just knew I had to hold on,” Ogden later recalled. “He was slipping further and further out. His face was slamming against the window. His eyes were wide open—but he didn’t blink.”
For over 20 minutes, Captain Lancaster remained pinned against the outside of the aircraft until the plane landed safely at Southampton Airport.
A Calm Co-Pilot Saves the Day
With Lancaster pinned against the fuselage and unconscious, First Officer Alastair Atchison took full control of the aircraft. He quickly descended to a safer altitude and diverted the flight to Southampton Airport, where he safely landed the plane just 35 minutes after takeoff.
All 81 passengers and six crew members survived.
The Cause: Maintenance Error
An investigation by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) revealed the cause: 90 bolts holding the windshield in place had been replaced during maintenance the night before. Of those, 84 were too narrow and the remaining six were the wrong length. The maintenance technician had selected the bolts by eye rather than using technical specifications or documentation.
The improperly secured windscreen failed under cabin pressure, leading to the blowout.
Injuries and Recovery
Captain Lancaster suffered frostbite, bruises, and fractures to his elbow, wrist, and thumb. He regained consciousness shortly after landing. Ogden suffered a dislocated shoulder and later developed post-traumatic stress disorder.
Incredibly, Lancaster returned to flying within five months and continued his aviation career until his retirement in 2008.
Legacy and Reforms
The incident prompted widespread changes in airline maintenance protocols, including enhanced quality checks, proper part verification, and independent inspections.
The flight crew received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. Atchison, praised for his cool-headed actions, was celebrated internationally.
A Reminder of Human Courage
Flight 5390 is remembered not only for the mechanical failure that nearly cost lives but also for the extraordinary teamwork and courage that saved them. It remains one of the most dramatic cockpit emergencies in commercial aviation history—and a shining example of human resilience under pressure.
Source:
- AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) Report No. 1/1992
- Wikipedia – “British Airways Flight 5390”