The AAIB found the seat’s safety pin was not fully installed and the previously disconnected harness chest strap caught on and inadvertently actuated the seat’s handle.

An improperly inserted safety pin after landing and a disconnected harness chess strap getting caught on the ejection seat handle caused the accidental ejection that killed T-6A Texan II instructor pilot on May 13, 2024 at Sheppard AFB, Texas. An Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) report released on Jun. 23, 2025, also observed that unbuckling while still taxiing after landing was found to be a common practice by some T-6A instructors, although proper guidelines about when to disconnect from the seat are not provided. Contents The AAIB found the seat’s safety pin was not fully installed and the previously dis

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