You just have to wonder about maintenance issues, and the quality of the mechanics. I’ll bet after this....none of the pilots agree to enter the cockpit until it’s been rolled out of the hangar.
The F5 was sold from 1959 to 1987. So these are old planes.
There should be a Safety Pin and REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT Flag on the Ejection Handle.
Someone F’ed up.
The Iranians are still flying the F-14 Tomcats we sold them.
They must be doing something right.