Chinese plane windshield pops out mid-flight
A Chinese pilot was nearly sucked out of a plane with 119 passengers aboard when one of the cockpit windows fell out mid-flight.
The Sichuan Airlines flight from Chongquin to Lhasa had to be grounded immediately when the windshield suddenly broke open yesterday morning.
Pilot Liu Chuanjian recounted the terrifying moment.
"The windshield cracked suddenly and gave a huge bang," he told the Red Star News.
"I looked aside and found half of the co-pilot’s body was already outside the window. Fortunately his seat belt was fastened."
Mr Liu had to land the Airbus A319 immediately, a task made more difficult because the instruments malfunctioned and it was too loud to use the radio.
The cockpit's temperature dropped to -40C.
A flight attendant was also injured when the plane suddenly dropped more than two kilometres.
Passenger Zhao Shihai was sleeping on the flight when the windshield dropped out, but was awakened by the violent turbulence.
"I was thrown up in the air and fell for several times," Zhao told the China Youth Daily.
"The oxygen masks on the plane all dropped out."
After 20 minutes without a windshield, Mr Liu was able to safely land the plane.
His co-pilot injured his back and hurt his face in the ordeal.
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