F-15D Backseat Passenger Accidentally Ejects on the Ground

An unusual incident unfolded at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts, when the backseat passenger of an F-15D Eagle from the 104th Fighter Wing accidentally ejected — while the aircraft was still taxiing.

Video posted on social media shows the moment’s aftermath: a puff of smoke rising from the backseat, the canopy blown clear and resting across the Eagle’s left wing. The passenger, now on the ground beside the taxiway, appears to be crawling away near a deployed parachute, as the jet continues to roll forward.

The ejection occurred under “zero-zero” conditions — no altitude, no airspeed — a situation that comes with its own risks. Fortunately, it appears the ejection seat performed as intended. While rare, such incidents have happened before during ride-along flights, but they remain highly uncommon.

A post on the Air Force’s Facebook page claimed the passenger was a recruiting officer from the 104th Fighter Wing, though this has not been officially confirmed. The 104th Fighter Wing has yet to release official details on the incident.