Man OK after accidental ejection

LANGEBAANWEG, South Africa, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- South African military officials said a civilian joyriding with an air force pilot friend was not injured when he was accidentally ejected from the aircraft.

An air force spokesman confirmed the civilian accidentally grabbed the eject lever while riding in a Pilatus PC-7 Mk II with a member of the Silver Falcons air force air display team, the Daily Mail of Britain reported Monday.

The passenger was blasted 320 feet over the plane by a rocket powered chair and floated to the ground with an automatic parachute near Langebaanweg airfield, located about 80 miles north of Cape Town.

"The passenger was recovered unharmed, and returned to Langebaanweg. The aircraft landed safely," the spokesman said.

He said civilians are not usually allowed in the planes and an investigation has been opened.