In June 1990, a routine British Airways flight became one of aviation’s most remarkable survival stories. Flight 5390 departed Birmingham for Málaga with 81 passengers and six crew, expecting an uneventful journey.

About 13 minutes after takeoff, at roughly 17,300 feet, disaster struck. A cockpit windshield suddenly blew out, causing explosive decompression and chaos inside the flight deck.

Captain Tim Lancaster was violently pulled toward the opening and partially sucked outside the aircraft, his legs trapped inside by the controls and seat. The force was immense, and debris whipped through the cockpit.

Flight attendant Nigel Ogden reacted instantly, grabbing the captain’s waist to keep him from being torn free. Despite freezing temperatures and hurricane-force winds, he held on.

Other crew members rushed to help. Purser John Heward and flight attendant Simon Rogers assisted in securing the captain, taking turns as exhaustion set in.

Meanwhile, co-pilot Alastair Atchison took control. He stabilized the aircraft, began an emergency descent, and guided the plane toward Southampton while communicating with air traffic control.

For more than 20 minutes, Lancaster remained partially outside the aircraft. Against all odds, the plane landed safely, and all 87 people aboard survived.

Investigators later traced the cause to a maintenance error involving incorrect windshield bolts. The crew’s bravery earned high honors, and the incident remains a powerful testament to training, teamwork, and human courage.