The Screw That Almost Brought Down British Airways Flight 5390 | What If Show

The Screw That Almost Brought Down British Airways Flight 5390 | What If Show recounts a near-catastrophe on June 10, 1990, when British Airways Flight 5390 flew from the United Kingdom to Spain after a short delay. Thirteen minutes after takeoff, at around 17,000 feet, an explosive sound came from the front of the aircraft, shattering the cockpit windshield and ripping the cockpit door from its frame. The resulting pressure loss exposed the flight deck to extreme conditions, with the captain, Timothy Lancaster, pulled from his seat as oxygen levels dropped rapidly. Flight attendant Nigel Ogden grabbed Lancaster’s legs, while co-pilot Alastair Aitchison struggled to maintain control as communications with air traffic control became nearly impossible. The crew instructed passengers to remain seated and belted while Aitchison recovered partial control and descended to regain breathable oxygen. The aircraft landed safely, with all 81 passengers surviving, but Lancaster suffered serious injuries including frostbite and a fractured elbow. Maintenance error was later traced to incorrect screws used when the windshield was replaced 27 hours earlier.