British Airways Flight 5390
Steven Meyer • March 13, 2024
British Airways Flight 5390 is a remarkable incident in aviation history that occurred on June 10, 1990. It involved a British Airways BAC One-Eleven, a short-haul jet airliner flying from Birmingham Airport in England to Málaga Airport in Spain. What made this flight particularly notable was an unprecedented and terrifying event that unfolded mid-air.
The flight, operated by Captain Tim Lancaster and First Officer Alastair Atchison, had been uneventful until approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of around 17,300 feet. Suddenly, with a loud bang, the left-hand windscreen of the cockpit blew out, causing an explosive decompression inside the cabin.
The decompression was so sudden and forceful that it resulted in Captain Lancaster being partially ejected from the aircraft. Despite being securely strapped into his seat, the rushing air pulled him partially out of the cockpit. His upper body was exposed to the extreme conditions outside the aircraft, with wind speeds reaching up to 345 miles per hour and temperatures dropping to as low as -17 degrees Celsius (-1 degree Fahrenheit).
First Officer Atchison, displaying exceptional presence of mind and quick reflexes, managed to grab onto Lancaster's legs and held on for dear life. Meanwhile, Captain Lancaster's upper body was being battered by the fierce winds, causing him to suffer severe injuries, including frostbite, bruising, and fractures.
With Lancaster partially outside the aircraft and the cockpit exposed to the elements, Atchison initiated an emergency descent to a lower altitude to provide a more hospitable environment. Despite the chaos and danger, the crew remained remarkably composed and professional, focusing on executing the emergency procedures to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.
With the assistance of the cabin crew and some passengers, Atchison managed to maintain control of the aircraft and made a successful emergency landing at Southampton Airport. Despite the harrowing experience, all 81 passengers and crew survived the ordeal, with only Captain Lancaster sustaining significant injuries.
The incident sparked widespread media coverage and earned Captain Lancaster and First Officer Atchison praise and recognition for their extraordinary courage and skill under pressure. The investigation that followed determined that the cause of the windscreen failure was a faulty repair carried out by maintenance workers, who had used incorrect bolts to secure the windscreen.
The lessons learned from Flight 5390 contributed to improvements in aircraft maintenance procedures and cockpit design, ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future. The resilience and professionalism demonstrated by the flight crew in the face of adversity serve as a testament to the importance of rigorous training and preparedness in the aviation industry.
Sources: Simple Flying, NDTV, Business Insider, Diario Sur, Interesting Engineering, Department of Transport
Images: Rob Hodgkins, Sam Chui, Admiral Cloudberg, Business Insider
