Rear-seat passenger accidentally ejects from US F-15D during taxi

[dkryan]

Apparently the rear seat occupant decided they really didn’t want that F-15D flight after all.

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-...ects-from-us-f-15d-during-taxi/164172.article

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/f-15-ride-along-passenger-234114304.html

https://theaviationist.com/2025/08/14/f-15d-backseater-accidentally-ejects/

I believe that particular ejection seat can be set for “occupant” or set for “both.”

Fortunately, it was a “rear seat ride only” in the ACES II zero-zero ejection seat in this instance.

 

[Leo99]

I misread the title as an F-150 taxi and imagined some poor bloke shot out of the pickup truck on a NYC street.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I misread the title as an F-150 taxi and imagined some poor bloke shot out of the pickup truck on a NYC street.

Yup. I was wondering where F150s were taxis

 

[Skippy722]

I misread the title as an F-150 taxi and imagined some poor bloke shot out of the pickup truck on a NYC street.

“EJECTO SEATO CUZ!”

 

[Jetronic]

reaching under the seat to move it a bit backwards?

 

[TomYoung]

I misread the title as an F-150 taxi and imagined some poor bloke shot out of the pickup truck on a NYC street.

That, too, probably happened.

 

[Astro14]

Yeah. Happens.

Not the first time somebody in the back seat failed to remember the safety instructions and training.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/sto...at-without-canopy-rio-erroneously-bailed/amp/

People have no idea how stressful sitting in the airplane can be for a first timer.

I’ve given lots of “dollar” rides - the hyperventilation of my passenger, particularly over hot mic, was a pretty clear indication of their stress level.

Under real stress*, your amygdala “hijacks” your brain function and puts you into fight or flight/survival mode. Your body dumps adrenaline into your system, increasing muscle strength, raising heart rate, and breathing rate.

That causes auditory exclusion, tunnel vision and lack of frontal cortex activity. No complex thinking is taking place.

First time in a fighter, even back seat, is stressful, no matter how smooth and calm the pilot is.

And that stress leads to an amygdala hijack, which leads to errors.

*those who have experienced real stress, like combat, a gun fight, or a night carrier landing, know about this effect. There are ways to control it, to manage it, with some “mind over body” techniques but until you have actually been there, you simply cannot appreciate what happens under real stress. Most people never experience real stress, never experience the trigger and the subsequent amygdala hijack.

 

[Kira]

Almost happened to Bob Hope.
In "I Owe Russia $1,200", Hope wrote about being a VIPassenger on a fighter jet on his way to a USO show aboard a carrier.
He asked the pilot if "this knob" could get him more leg room.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT", was the response.

 

[AZjeff]

@Astro14 , what does it cost to put the airplane back together after an ejection? My son was in the egress shop for F16s at Luke AFB servicing the ejection systems. More dangerous than bomb disposal we found out later. He had some stories about people taking dollar rides.

Here it is.

 

[Astro14]

Over a million dollars in parts and a lot of labor.

The canopy alone is likely over $250,000, and it won’t survive the impact with the ground after being jettisoned. The ejection seat will need to be replaced. The det cords will need to be replaced. The entire cockpit will need to be cleaned and the damage (from the rocket motor firing) repaired. Some floor parts, cockpit displays, and console controls will likely be damaged.

 

[nwjones18]

Someone is going to have a hard time living that down...

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Over a million dollars in parts and a lot of labor.

The canopy alone is likely over $250,000, and it won’t survive the impact with the ground after being jettisoned. The ejection seat will need to be replaced. The det cords will need to be replaced. The entire cockpit will need to be cleaned and the damage (from the rocket motor firing) repaired. Some floor parts, cockpit displays, and console controls will likely be damaged.

You probably answered this elsewhere before - Did you ever have to eject?

 

[Pablo]

You’re fired!

 

[y_p_w]

@Astro14 , what does it cost to put the airplane back together after an ejection? My son was in the egress shop for F16s at Luke AFB servicing the ejection systems. More dangerous than bomb disposal we found out later. He had some stories about people taking dollar rides.

Here it is.

The reported contract with Collins Aerospace for replacement of F-15 ejection seats with ACES 5 was $700 million in 2020. Not sure if it included the Strike Eagles.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/collins-gets-700-million-to-upgrade-f-15-ejection-seats/

 

[ripcord]

Yeah. Happens.

Not the first time somebody in the back seat failed to remember the safety instructions and training.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/sto...at-without-canopy-rio-erroneously-bailed/amp/

People have no idea how stressful sitting in the airplane can be for a first timer.

I’ve given lots of “dollar” rides - the hyperventilation of my passenger, particularly over hot mic, was a pretty clear indication of their stress level.

Under real stress*, your amygdala “hijacks” your brain function and puts you into fight or flight/survival mode. Your body dumps adrenaline into your system, increasing muscle strength, raising heart rate, and breathing rate.

That causes auditory exclusion, tunnel vision and lack of frontal cortex activity. No complex thinking is taking place.

First time in a fighter, even back seat, is stressful, no matter how smooth and calm the pilot is.

And that stress leads to an amygdala hijack, which leads to errors.

*those who have experienced real stress, like combat, a gun fight, or a night carrier landing, know about this effect. There are ways to control it, to manage it, with some “mind over body” techniques but until you have actually been there, you simply cannot appreciate what happens under real stress. Most people never experience real stress, never experience the trigger and the subsequent amygdala hijack.

That's sounds way more scientific than, "Sometimes newbies freak the heck out their first time in a fighter jet."

 

[Pablo]

That's sounds way more scientific than, "Sometimes newbies freak the heck out their first time in a fighter jet."

Or

Potty Break!!

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

So what are the consequences here? What's the passenger on the hook for?

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

So what are the consequences here? What's the passenger on the hook for?

His new nickname is ripcord

 

[ripcord]

His new nickname is ripcord

Premature Ejector

 

[y_p_w]

Premature Ejector

I was thinking the guy who grabbed the ejection handle on a Rafale during a ride could be call the French Ejection. As opposed to French basketball player Rudy Gobert, whose favorite nickname is the French Rejection for his skill in blocking shots.