Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Vintage jet takes off by mistake

|
|
 
  
Published: Sept. 8, 2009 at 8:00 PM

BRUNTINGTHORPE, England, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- British aviation regulators say the investigation into the accidental takeoff of a vintage Cold War bomber is closed.

The Victor bomber became airborne at an air show in Leicestershire on May 5 when an engineer sitting in the co-pilot's seat gave it more throttle when he should have hit the brake, The Times of London reported. The plane was supposed to taxi down the runway and then stop.

Luckily, Bob Prothero, 70, a former RAF group captain, was at the controls. Prothero had hours of experience in Victors, although he had not flown one since the 1980s.

Prothero called the plane's brief time in the air "the most terrifying nine seconds of my life." He managed to steer the Victor, Teasin' Tina, back to the runway and away from a housing development and spectators at Cold War Jets open day at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome.

"My only concern was getting the plane down as quickly and safely as possible," he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority investigated the incident because neither Prothero nor the "co-pilot" has an actual pilot's license. It decided against any action, finding that the engineer froze in a stressful situation.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Cheerleaders of 2012 Tibetan pilgrims celebrate New Years Oscar nominations 2012
2011: The year in space The Most Desirable Women of 2012 The best kisses
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 15
Rose McGowan at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Fall 2012 Collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week In New York
View Caption
fark
Subby, for one, welcomes our new Pennsylvania Purple Squirrel overlords (with purple-pic)
The toughest place to be a train driver
"Can a man be 'slut-shamed?'" Well...yeah
Problem: You have a city full of people who have no ability whatsoever to parallel park. Solution:...
38KKK air bags keep woman safe in car crash
NJ DOT committee presents recommendations on ways to reduce train-related deaths. #1: Stop getting...