A pensioner who was gifted a surprise flight in an $87,500,000 fighter jet was ejected at 2,500ft after accidentally grabbing the ejector seat handle to 'steady himself', The Telegraph reports.

The dramatic moment has been detailed in a newly released report by French aviation investigators at the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis, which at times reads like it could be a plot for an upcoming episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Related - People on the ground were left red-faced by this pilot's sky art:

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The unidentified 64-year-old had been bought a flight in the Rafale-B fighter jet as a retirement present, but after becoming panicked by the thrilling experience, he grabbed the ejector seat handle and was flung out of the plane at high speed, losing his loosely-fitted helmet in the process.

Fortunately, the pensioner's parachute successfully opened, and he subsequently landed in a field near the German border. The report states that he did suffer minor injuries.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: BEA-É - Ministère des Armées]]

The report details how the man never expressed any desire to take the flight, and that it had been organized by the French Air Force at the request of the Defence Ministry, which had put pressure on the man to hop in the passenger seat.

The report states: "The need to keep the surprise until the moment of the flight had hugely risky consequences, especially as regards preparation for the flight.

"Faced with a fait accompli on the day of the flight, it was very difficult for him to refuse to participate in the flight.

"This situation generated a feeling of stress for the passenger, and this was particularly felt during the ejection seat briefing where he had to assimilate a large amount of information in a very short time.

"In addition, the stress of surprise has been magnified by the complete lack of military aviation experience.

"The passenger said he had a complete lack of knowledge of the aeronautical environment and its constraints, having never flown on a military aircraft."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: BEA-É - Ministère des Armées]]

The report adds that the passenger had expected a gentle ascent, but was startled as the jet sharply "climbed at 47 degrees".

The sharp climb caused the gentleman to reach out and grab hold of something to keep him steady... unfortunately the thing that he grabbed was the ejector seat handle.

After being thrown from the plane at 2,500ft, the force of the ejection caused the 64-year-old to lose his oxygen mask. But fortunately, the unnamed pensioner's parachute opened and he landed in a field, only suffering minor injuries.

Despite the fact the ejection system is reportedly supposed to throw both the pilot and the passenger out of the plane, but the pilot managed to remain seated and safely land the plane.

The report goes on to praise the "calmness" displayed by the 35-year-old pilot - despite the unexpected loss of his passenger - adding that he was "in control of the situation".

Pensioner flung from fighter jet at 2,500ft after accidentally grabbing ejector seat handle