[NRx]

If this had shown up a couple weeks ago, I'd have treated it as an April Fools joke.

[Magnatron]

This is hilarious, and probably a HUGE surprise for the pilot.

[teeman8r]

what does this handle dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo?

[Gay State Conservative]

If I could get a ride on an F-18 and be assured that while airborne *nobody* would get hurt if I pushed the “eject” button I’d do it...absolutely!

[Jewbacca]

After landing, he proceeded to the German border where he surrendered.

[donozark]

Hope Joe Biden is okay.

[A Navy Vet]

Great training there. Aircraft ejection seat handles are like the trigger on a gun. Don’t put your finger/hands on it until you intend to pull it. Glad he’s okay, though.

[PGR88]

He did not really want the flight but was convinced to do it anyway

tha’s hillarious. I guess its safe to assume he didn’t want a ride in an ejector seat either.

[ClearCase_guy]

The plane took off and the guy said “I’ve had enough” and just left. The French give up so easy.

[Artemis Webb]

Your link sent me to an attack site.

[Exit148]

He sure had the ride of his life!!

Hey FReepers -— lets get this Freepathon going so that it won’t lsst 2 1/2 months again! We NEED FRee Republic! Lets show it. Even a small donation from each one of you will help!

[decal]

"...which has found significant failures in the safety procedures for the flight."

No merde, Cherloque...

[rightwingcrazy]

Hate when that happens. Putting up yellow sticky notes with reminders help you remember “don’t touch!”

[Rurudyne]

Don’t let him guard the History Eraser Button, the shine red, jolly, candle-like History Eraser Button....

[wildcard_redneck]

That is so French, to eject yourself out of a perfectly working jet fighter out of fear is the equivalent of throwing down your gun and running away in the middle of a battle.

[srmanuel]

talk about getting the ride of your life...

[Responsibility2nd]

Alanis Morrisette wrote about this guy years ago. Sorta....

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
“Well, isn’t this nice”
And isn’t it ironic, don’t you think

[A_perfect_lady]

Well.... he survived, so it’s funny. But man, if he hadn’t, it would have been a massively screwed up twist of fate.

[Hot Tabasco]

That would certainly be a birthday buzz killer.....

[A Navy Vet]

"When the plane took off more rapidly than he expected and climbed high into the sky, the Frenchman grasped for something to steady himself and found the ejector handle, reports the Telegraph."

I don't understand that statement. I'm sure he was in a twin-seat Rafale B. Did it not have rear seat handles for banking/rolling and other maneuvers like our rear seat aircraft? Also, where is the actual ejector handle? Ours are under the seat that take both hands to ignite, at least they were.

[Pilgrim's Progress]

"Do it again! Do it again!"