We had posted a different version of the story in 2020 when it became more widely known as a result of the official investigation into the March 2019 incident.
From Car and Driver, Apr 13, 2020:
A French defense contractor riding in a Dassault fighter learned the hard way that the grab bar next to his seat was actually the ejection handle.
Imagine: You work hard your whole life in the French defense industry, and when it's time to retire, your co-workers want to give you something more memorable than a gold watch or a set of golf clubs. So they set up a coveted back-seat ride in a Dassault Rafale B fighter jet, the kind of perk that requires serious connections.
Just one problem: nobody asked one particular 64-year-old civilian whether he ever wanted such a ride, or showed him much about what to expect. Next thing you know, the French Investigation Bureau for State Aviation Safety (BEA-E) is issuing a report explaining how Monsieur Newbie came to experience not only the Dassault, but also its Martin-Baker MK16 ejection seat.
Well, mistakes were made. Lots of them....
....MUCH MORE
Our Hero
Previously:
ICYMI: Retirement Gift Gone Bad—Man Gets Ride In Jet Fighter, Man Accidently Triggers Ejector Seat at 2500 Feet
which had the above pic and the note: "Fortunately the man's buddies were able to film the event for posterity (and the official report [link rotted]):"
