Learjet23 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (5 years 3 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 9052 times:
Several years ago I was watching the news in Dallas about a CPT who steeped off the jetway unknowing it had been partly retracted, and he took a very long fall. The news was he was on life support and the community planned a prayer vigil for him. Any news on this.... just a tragic way to end up!
Railker From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 166 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 8379 times:
I remember a similar event happening. Mobile airstairs were positioned at the front sill of a 737, and the tug driver didn't properly disconnect from the stairs, or something that caused the effect. The cabin door was opened, and as the flight attendant went to step out, the tug driver drove away ... with the stairs.
Thankfully, the sill height of a 737 isn't simlar to that of the larger aircraft, and she only went to hospital with bruises and a scrape.
Can only imagine, though, the look on the tug driver's face. First, realizing the stairs were still (partially?) connected. And then seeing a flight attendant appear into view and fall to the ground.
Curlyheadboy From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 921 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5139 times:
I remember those AF pilots who jumped to the ground from the cockpit windows of an A320 several years ago. It happened after the plane was hijacked by some terrorists and was being stormed by SWAT teams. If I recall correctly, the two made it with survivable injuries. Though, I guess an A320 is lower above the ground than a 747 or 777, even at cockpit windows level...
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 3807 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 5102 times:
Quoting Curlyheadboy (Reply 6): I remember those AF pilots who jumped to the ground from the cockpit windows of an A320 several years ago.
There is something of a difference between a fall and a jump though, one you are takne by surprise, the other you can somewhat prepare for the inevitable contact with the ground. There is a theory that its not the fall that kills you, but the landing.
I read a crew TR ages back for a U2 cabin crew member. Apparently U2 are obsessed with the possibility of this happening. They have put very stringent proceedures in place to prevent this from happening. IMHO, the easiest and cheapest thing to do is place a brightly colored tape across the door anytime the aircraft is on the ground and there is no airbridge/stairs connected.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK-LHR(EI)-MAN(BD); MAN-LHR(BD)-ORK (EI); DUB-ZRH-LAX (LX) LAX-YYZ (AC) YYZ-YHZ-LHR(AC)-DUB(BD)
CURLYHEADBOY From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 921 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4968 times:
Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 7): There is something of a difference between a fall and a jump though, one you are takne by surprise, the other you can somewhat prepare for the inevitable contact with the ground. There is a theory that its not the fall that kills you, but the landing.
Totally agree, if you jump you usually try to land on your feet but, if you don't expect to fall, you may land head-first on the tarmac. I believe the chances of sustaining fatal injuries is higher if you recieve a head trauma, even falling from a short distance.
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
Qantas744ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1252 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4834 times:
Quoting Curlyheadboy (Reply 6): I remember those AF pilots who jumped to the ground from the cockpit windows of an A320 several years ago. It happened after the plane was hijacked by some terrorists and was being stormed by SWAT teams. If I recall correctly, the two made it with survivable injuries. Though, I guess an A320 is lower above the ground than a 747 or 777, even at cockpit windows level...
Quoting Vfw614 (Reply 9): IIRC, the Air France Airbus that was hijacked was not an A320, but an A300. Makes a bit of a difference jump-wise.
The FO broke his leg. And the Captain walked away uninjured.
CURLYHEADBOY From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 921 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4813 times:
Quoting Vfw614 (Reply 9): IIRC, the Air France Airbus that was hijacked was not an A320, but an A300. Makes a bit of a difference jump-wise.
You're absolutely right, that was an A300 (reg. F-GBEC), AF flight 8969 and the incident happened on December 24, 1994.
Here is the video of the big jump of the first officer, surprisingly not only he does survive, but runs away.
Madairdrie From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 118 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3768 times:
Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 7): There is something of a difference between a fall and a jump though, one you are takne by surprise, the other you can somewhat prepare for the inevitable contact with the ground. There is a theory that its not the fall that kills you, but the landing.
Quoting CURLYHEADBOY (Reply 8): Totally agree, if you jump you usually try to land on your feet but, if you don't expect to fall, you may land head-first on the tarmac. I believe the chances of sustaining fatal injuries is higher if you recieve a head trauma, even falling from a short distance.
Sometimes it can work the other way around, as if you fall your body does not tense up as much and as long as your land without hitting your head or another vital part of your body you sometimes have more chance of suffering less injuries than jumping where you muscles tighten and can make the impact on landing harder. Basically it all depends on how you land.
SJC4Me From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 366 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3516 times:
Quoting CURLYHEADBOY (Reply 11): Here is the video of the big jump of the first officer, surprisingly not only he does survive, but runs away.
You actually see two jumps in that video. One by the co-pilot, whom hits the ground like a ton of bricks; and one by a GIGN member who absorbs the jump with precision.
Intense video though. I couldn't imagine grenades going off in such a confined area like a cockpit.
Planespotting From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3438 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3279 times:
Quoting CURLYHEADBOY (Reply 8): Totally agree, if you jump you usually try to land on your feet but, if you don't expect to fall, you may land head-first on the tarmac.
Quoting Madairdrie (Reply 12): Sometimes it can work the other way around, as if you fall your body does not tense up as much and as long as your land without hitting your head or another vital part of your body you sometimes have more chance of suffering less injuries than jumping where you muscles tighten and can make the impact on landing harder.
If you're falling from the 10+ feet height, only luck can save you or kill you if you're not expecting the fall.
The co-pilot on the video jumped straight down - which is the best way to do it, because there's very little time to rotate if you just fall straight without any initial rotating moment. If you're walking out of the plane and expect airstairs to be there and they aren't, you're already moving in one direction (forward) ... so when you step off into infinity (I think that's what it would seem like for a fall like that), your body's going to rotate face first, and the relatively short fall won't leave much time for you to do a full rotation back onto your feet. So you do a face plant from 10+ feet up...ouch.
It reminds me of this time in college ... I was just about to go on a road trip with a buddy of mine and he was waiting in the car and I was running down the dorm stairs ... I made it down the stairs just fine, but when I got outside onto the patio/walkway part of the dorm exterior there was this cute little limestone wall about 3 feet high between myself and the way to his car. Since I was already running (for no real reason at all), I figured "I'm gonna jump it!" ...
It just so happens that on the other side of the limestone wall is a nice grassy area that's about 4 feet down from the top of the wall. I jumped ... and I just didn't pull my right foot up enough to clear it.
So here's all six foot two inches of me sailing through the air when suddenly my foot catches on the wall.
Needless to say, I ate it.
I came up with a face full of grass, not to mention getting the wind knocked out of me ... I felt like I'd been hit in the chest by one of those bean bag guns. But luckily I had a relatively soft (earth is softer than concrete) landing.
But because I was so surprised, my body didn't tense up at all - nor did I have any time to react and try to roll or anything like that ... although I don't think there's much you can do in that situation.
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 16, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3084 times:
Quoting Learjet23 (Thread starter): Several years ago I was watching the news in Dallas about a CPT who steeped off the jetway unknowing it had been partly retracted, and he took a very long fall.
The only incident remotely similar I can recall was a Capt. who was on the outside stairs of a jetbridge when the stairs failed (corrosion?) and he (and the stairs) fell to the ground. He was out "sick" for about a year IIRC. Never heard of any AA pilot falling by stepping off the end of a jetway.
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
Legion242 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 233 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 3 months 1 day ago) and read 2767 times:
This happened at DFW. The crew were exiting the bridge by the stairs on the outside of the bridge and the stairs came off and dumped him on his head. He survived but had severe head trauma and is not well. I am pretty sure he never even walked again. Source: My Dad worked for AA at DFW at the time and knew the Captain.
Trex8 From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 3970 posts, RR: 14 Reply 19, posted (5 years 3 months 2 hours ago) and read 1933 times:
I know a UA mechanic who years ago fell out of a open door in the hangar, he was in intensive care for almost 2 weeks. crunched just about every bone in his face. he's fine now though.
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