PRACTICAL JOSS IN MID-AIR

Shannon News, 4 August 1925, Page 2

PRACTICAL JOSS IN MID-AIR

SHOCK FOR VILOT WHEN HIGH, OVER COAST. DANGLING LIMBS. .LONDON, June S. A remarkable incident caused the pi'ot of an imperial Airways express to make a hasty landing - on Saturday . .e.img at the French coastal air station at St. Inglevert. The plane was yn route'from Zurich to London, mainly with urgent merchandise, and was about to pass out from the French coast for its crossing above the Channel when\ the pilot glancing back'’along the hull of his .machine, was astonished to see the

arm and leg of a passenger thrust out from one of the saloon windows. At a loss to know what was happening. he decided to land at once, and then found that the affair was a practical juke. His Sense of Humour. When the earoplune made its scheduled halt at Paris two American.-. went aboard to fly- to London. They were the only occupants of the saloon.. As the craft neared the sea coast, thousands of feet high, they were discussing feats performed by aerial acrobats in sensational films. One of them; by way. of playing a joke on his companion, declared ho intended to emulate one of those dare-devils ’who walk along the wings of aeroplanes while they are in rapid flight. To b ml conviction to his words he .Tunng up from ills seat and pushed : u arm and a leg through the saloon wmslow, which was not big enough to permit tlie passage of his body. It "'as just at this juncture that the pilot out in front cast his glance back-wards. When these* facts had been ascertained tlm interrupted flight to London was resumed, but liot before the pilot had obtained a promise that the passenger would refrain from any more practical joking.