Former TOPGUN pilot analyzes Marine Corps pilot's eerie calm after emergency F-18 ejection

Former TOPGUN pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley said Marine Corps Maj. Jackson Simon’s recent F-18 Hornet crash in Washington state, and his decision to eject, underscores how violent ejections can be and why pilots may appear unnaturally calm afterward. Buckley told Fox News Digital that ejections subject pilots to roughly 10 to 20 G’s and can cause life-threatening injuries, citing research of 1,710 military aircrew ejections (1971–2019) that found a pooled mortality rate of 10.5% and major injuries in 29.8%. Buckley said the “shock” and adrenaline drop, plus training that emphasizes compartmentalizing, can contribute to a composed demeanor. He also noted the importance of body positioning to reduce injury risk, including preventing “seat slap” and avoiding arm extension.