Terrifying moment pilot's canopy shatters mid-flight forcing her to land

This is the terrifying moment a pilot's canopy flew open and shattered mid-air during a training flight - leaving her battling to land the aircraft. Narine Melkumjan, a Dutch pilot, shared the 'distressing' footage on social media over the weekend of the moment she became embroiled in the airborne challenge while flying her Extra 330LX plane. The shocking ordeal, which took place several years ago on Nadine's second ever aerobatic training flight, appeared to be running smoothly as she cruised over a patchwork of green fields. But nothing could prepare her for what was about to come. Just moments later, the skilled pilot was seen struggling to maintain a grip on the controls after the protective barrier was ripped off the aircraft and shattered before her eyes.
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[@shonen84]

For full context: Narine posted this video herself and fully acknowledged she didn’t properly lock the canopy and missed it in the preflight check. She took full responsibility for her mistake, showed great skill in flying the plane, and lived to share an important lesson for all (student) aviators.

[@thelittlebeefcake4831]

Women drivers

[@lambertlum1087]

@@thelittlebeefcake4831 Ahem, student driver. Or should we say student pilot. This is a training flight.

[@Ojb_1959]

Wow, how’s her eyes?

[@SeminarioMAE]

lmao 🤣🤣🤣

[@faustopacheco120]

☕

[@becauseifly3440]

3 Rules of inflight emergency actions: 1. Maintain aircraft control 2. Analyze the situation and take the proper action. 3. Land as soon as conditions permit. WELL DONE, PILOT NARINE!

[@ВоронМаусы]

These rules are applied literally anywhere...common sense

[@becauseifly3440]

@@ВоронМаусы Very true. However, during sudden inflight emergencies, panic quite often overwhelms common sense. In USAF flight training, these basics are hammered into pilots for emergency actions.

[@raphael7552]

Aviate, navigate, communicate.

[@smellycunt1629]

@@raphael7552 masturbate

[@TootSocialTV]

Thank you Captain Obvious! 🧑‍✈ But you forget the first, most important checklist item of ALL KZbin pilots: "1.Check GoPro-ON"

[@girijasankarsomakumar4023]

She remained composed and focused on landing the Aircraft safely. Amazing courage!

[@iotolaofrocknrolla2795]

The canopy didn’t shatter, it popped open causing it to crack in the wind.

[@dewilton7712]

Look again. Almost all the glass is completely gone and not just cracked.

[@anthonymarch-ti1fq]

It did not shatter. It was a dodgy catch holding it shut.

[@geographyinaction7814]

You can clearly see the glass explode from the shock of the canopy hitting the fuselage.

[@AdversaryOne]

Everybody has a plan until their canopy opens up, mid flight.

[@ogukuo97]

She did an amazing job.

[@blaskoxx4954]

Still looked beautiful the whole time.

[@roxximusik8958]

Her vision was most certainly impaired judging from her reactions once on the ground.

[@beakerfish72]

bravo on the landing. thumbs down on the prep.

[@andrewcomments5812]

She screwed up, and that could have been a fatal mistake, but she kept her cool and landed it. Her failure will make her a better pilot.

[@Angry_Lion]

No failure. A Lesson

[@beastofackworth]

Only a mistake if you don't learn from it. She will never make the same mistake twice.

[@izwanizi]

Her failure is a stupidity that cannot be forgive by civil aviation professional...Thats total incompetence...

[@mattburrito]

come on give the woman a break you guys need to shut up

[@reddyreddy2618]

​@@Angry_Lion failure to conduct recognised pre flight checks.

[@pablohassan6897]

Text book attitude, didn't panic, full control, very quick reaction to secure harness strap, backs throttle off and guides it in at speed, with a face full of wind, bugs and grit. Hats off to you, your trainer will be proud 👏👏👏👍🎖

[@SeekSomethingMore]

Forbidden snacks.

[@keithb4077]

I have 0 aviation knowledge, so as a clueless spectator: is it not standard to have some sort of eye protection available in the cockpit (i.e. that she could have put on to mitigate the rough effect on the eyes here)?

[@FredScuttle456]

Reminds me of an event from the 1970s. A European glider pilot was flying in the alps. A big eagle objected to the glider sharing its airspace. It crashed through the canopy. The pilot spent several minutes fighting the eagle in his cockpit. A big beak, talons, lots of pecking. In those days nobody was able to film it.

[@THESocialJusticeWarrior]

She is trying to show the importance of the pre-flight checks: Nadine admitted the 'challenging experience' could have been avoided if she had made the necessary pre-flight checks. 'The canopy locking pin had never gone into the locked position and I failed to notice it during my checks,' she said. 'I also made the mistake of going to the training camp right after recovering from COVID, without allowing my body enough time to fully regain strength. 'Additionally, flying without any eye protection made the flight even more challenging than it already was.' Melkumjan, whose social media feeds are filled with videos of her flying, noted she was sharing the footage as a 'cautionary tale' for fellow pilots. 'I regret that it took me so long to share this video footage. It’s not easy to put my vulnerabilities out there for the world to see,' she said. 'However, I have come to realise how important it is to be transparent about our shortcomings and the lessons we learn along the way. 'To all my fellow pilots out there, fly safe'.

[@JohnSmith-nj4zq]

That's why everyone should be cautious when you see women drivers and pilots.

[@THESocialJusticeWarrior]

@@JohnSmith-nj4zq So, JohnSmith, planes piloted by men never crash due to pilot error? You are so full of it.

[@JohnSmith-nj4zq]

@@THESocialJusticeWarrior Who said anything about crashes. At least the men pilots would not ignore the pre-flight checks.

[@Garanimal-g8b]

@@THESocialJusticeWarrior Well, they are smart enough to NOT post a moronic video.

[@wildgoobsid5]

That’s why red bull pilots and many aerobatic pilots wear helmets with visors. Lesson learned I wonder if she has switched.

[@jackcrow3477]

She handled that like a boss.

[@Garanimal-g8b]

Bosses don't skip pre-flight! Morons

[@mattburrito]

i agree shes brave lot of fails that happen men and women but failure to succeed

[@ultimatums1]

Pfft

[@PineappleOnPizza69]

Nah she handled the pre-flight check poorly. This was negligence on her part.

[@pooman2]

Wobbly face boss

[@JamesMurphy-ry2mx]

Shattered? I think you mean it opened.

[@Oligodendrocyte139]

Opened then shattered. The description is clearer than the headline.

[@llwc9435]

It shattered on the recoil.

[@TomGodson95]

Ueah you can see part of the screen missing, massive hole in the middle 😂​@Oligodendrocyte139

[@PompeyMatt17]

you can clearly see the blue tinted perspex has smashed

[@JamesMurphy-ry2mx]

Yes. Watched it again. It opened and shattered. I stand corrected. Thanks

[@thevolner]

must be how those old timey pilots felt like with the open cockpits

[@bathwars]

hahaha yes but they also wore goggles

[@davis_8082]

Nah they wore goggles and had thick fur coats to protect them against the cold wind

[@MatthewJarvis-zw2sz]

I agree with what the other replies said, and also want to add that open cockpits were still around in WW2 (notably with Italian fighter planes), but they tended to at least have a windscreen. So this lady here did an excellent job maintaining control with no windscreen AND no goggles!

[@Dom-ev2ce]

I used to fly chipmunks with the RAF as a school cadet in the 90s, we used to regularly open the canopy during flight and go cloud hopping. It had a solid front windscreen and it was a lovely convertible :)

[@MatthewJarvis-zw2sz]

@@Dom-ev2ce That's so cool :) I'd love to fly in a plane with an open cockpit and a windscreen, it sounds like one of the best ways to experience flight - open to the elements just as a bird is!

[@dallasyap3064]

Excellent airmanship. Thankfully she's fine.

[@marinearenaswimmingpools5320]

airwomanship

[@deletdis6173]

​@@marinearenaswimmingpools5320*airpersonship

[@gmdhao]

@@marinearenaswimmingpools5320 There is no such vocabulary in the dictionary. Go get educated.

[@jinkazama2555]

@@marinearenaswimmingpools5320 yeah thats wh she f'd up

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

@@gmdhao I think it might have been a joke. I thought of making the same comment as a sarcastic jab towards woke idiots.

[@larrysweetser4198]

Great airmanship handled the emergency perfectly

[@chevy4x466]

She didn’t latch the canopy. That lack of attention to detail is deadly

[@zulucruz664]

*airwomanship

[@chevy4x466]

@@zulucruz664 flying is very dangerous unless u r a bird. I don’t recommend non pros do it.

[@dcan5012]

​@@zulucruz664 stop it

[@randombush3031]

@@zulucruz664that’s not a word

[@LPM147]

This video NOT sponsored by Oakley.

[@TootSocialTV]

It was a Test Flight for Gorilla Glue's new "Extreme" Contact Lens Fluid

[@ttjjsnwosnws]

​@@TootSocialTVi am sold! Now how do i get them out

[@Cavemale2000]

I had a bug hit me once in the back of my throat after I stuck my head out of the car (I do not know why my mouth was open). The car was only doing like 30 mph, but I swear that bug exploded inside my mouth. She recovered and handled that like a boss, where I just bitched and moaned the rest of the way with tears in my grown man-eyes.

[@aldoskyz8]

Wow she mantained a cold blood to the perfect landing. 10/10

[@faustopacheco120]

well it's her fault. should have locked the canopy

[@wormthatturned8737]

She got herself into that mess and had to get herself out of it simple!

[@PeterStaniforth]

No, her blood was cold because of the 125mph gale at 2,000ft!

[@unknownperson4275]

@@wormthatturned8737That’s literally what she did.. are you slow..?

[@Jackie-ji2sj]

FLYING OPEN AIR LIKE THE OLD DAYS

[@VitalityMassage]

OMG the eyes! Didn't shatter. Opened.

[@TheBooban]

She’s bringing goggles next time with her.

[@SteelbeastsCavalry]

Click-bait title.

[@thejohhny2943]

opened and then shattered

[@JavaT6437]

You really can't see the broken glass?!

[@A-10Thunderbolt-lk7ul]

And shattered

[@driveman6490]

With over 62 years of absolutely zero aviation experience, I can say with 100% certainty that this has never happened to me.

[@53zwitt]

She is very lucky. The same thing happened last year to a pilot in Georgia but the canopy came completely off and took the vertical stabilizer off. The pilot had no control and crashed. Both he and the teenage passenger lost their lives.

[@patpierce4854]

I remember that- Georgia resident. Just awful!

[@53zwitt]

@@patpierce4854 I saw it happen. Tragic!

[@thestranger8528]

​@@53zwittSame here I experienced this in GTA V. I landed in a military base

[@jameson6537]

She handled that extreme situation with skill, confidence and laser sharp focus. And posting this video for others to learn from says a lot about her. She has my trust and respect.

[@DJBallinger-b3m]

Simp.

[@DJBallinger-b3m]

Like your trust and respect is some kind of prize, lol. You spend half your income on OnlyFans my dude.

[@dontmatter4423]

Women ☕

[@paulalvinflemming5018]

always wear helmet and special eyeglasses You never know

[@mands406]

I am not sure why she did not followed the safety rule like wearing headgear or helmet, putting goggles on eyes...this could have cost her life

[@davidbarrass5210]

I wonder exactly how many private pilots across the world actually wear helmets and goggles. They are not ww2 fighter pilots.

[@reecom9884]

She pulls back the canopy latch handle but fails to look at the handle position; it was in the half lock position. There is a red strip the handle must line-up with, she only felt the resistance and not looked at the handle position. Her eyes must be burning in the slip stream, the wind dries out eyes making them feel like they were sand rubbing in your eyes.

[@jobiieofficial]

Gopro: ✅ Canopy Lock: ❌

[@TootSocialTV]

Now THAT's the real lesson!

[@Project2025WILLRUINYOURLIFE]

Canopy Lock: ❌ Learning from her mistake and educating others: 👍

[@majorlaff8682]

Don't forget the vanity meter.

[@TootSocialTV]

@@majorlaff8682 🤣 It get's installed with the GoPro. FAA certification requirement.☑

[@anneroberts15]

Amazing how she kept her cool

[@TootSocialTV]

There seems to be enough breeze to keep her cool. And enough propwash to keep her skin clean and fresh too!

[@MrARashid]

What else can she do have a hissy fit?

[@cab26]

She looks quite chill

[@Cbricklyne]

It's very cold up there.

[@mattbaxter688]

She had the ultimate safety squint going

[@paracite187]

... if your mechanic previously worked at Boeing.

[@peted2770]

My face when the visor flips open on my motorcycle while going 130mph.

[@duartesimoes508]

It's the first time I noticed the canopy shattered. Probably made in China... 🤔

[@tylerdurden4006]

And yet america depends on Chinese imports more than anyone else...🤷🤦‍♂️🤣

[@jinlee2617]

No wonder Apple products are full of £hit. 😂😂😂

[@tylerdurden4006]

Lol, says one of China's biggest dependants.

[@SUPPLEGENIUS]

@@tylerdurden4006 They are both dependant on each other like an abusive relationsip, even down to the lawyers making money off it being the only winners LOL

[@tylerdurden4006]

@@SUPPLEGENIUS than don't be racist and make fun of their products when you spend heavily on them...lmfao

[@jasonlovern2322]

Great job! Stay cool, maintain control, turn back toward the airport, throttle back, lose some altitude and land safely. Bravo! 👏

[@roxximusik8958]

Yes, but it was a glider.

[@ZeKermet]

Canopy fell... sounds familiar 🤔. I think a well known company touched that aircraft lol 🛫🚪⬇️

[@scottysmediaproductions]

Nice work sunshine. Calm and collected.

[@pandunga]

She didn't secure the canopy latch correctly. Simple.

[@tomparatube6506]

'The canopy locking pin had never gone into the locked position and I failed to notice it during my checks,' she said. Could have been avoided if she had made the necessary pre-flight checks.

[@TheDeepExplorer1]

@@cjskelton7603it’s a glider, doesn’t carry passengers

[@reecom9884]

@@TheDeepExplorer1 She was not flying a glider; she was flying an aerobatic plane. She is siting high directly over the wings further back from the nose because of the CG due to the weight of the engine and plane has a short fuselage and tail assembly.

[@roxximusik8958]

Don't want to be sexist but I suspect that the male brain is typically more OCD in this respect. I'm always having to conduct 'pre-flight' checks upon my wife before she goes out the door - seriously !

[@tomparatube6506]

@@roxximusik8958 When it's life-or-death kind of safety, only being sexist will do, haha

[@roxximusik8958]

@@tomparatube6506 Try asking a real woman how her mood and concentration levels can fluctuate each month. For some, not all, it can be a real thing to bear in mind.

[@osicogames1194]

IMO pre-flight checks and checklists are essential and have to be done properly and there is no way around it. Protecting your eyes and head would be antother steep in safety for aerobatic flying. 😊

[@AudioVisualRomance]

Amazing how quickly you turn from pretty to looking like you woke up from plastic surgery. My biggest respect to handling the situation under the risk of going blind by bug impacts.

[@TheNeighborhoodCat]

most of the comments here are from those that dont fly planes. "coulda, shoulda, woulda.. blablabla". but cant collect themselves in these type of situation when faced with. kudos to the pilot. calm and collective.

[@rhino6634]

She shave even make sure the canopy is latched properly. It’s a very stupid and reckless mistake. You are right I don’t fly planes but if there was a checklist I would be diligent to ensure everything is done properly. It’s not about being a pilot it’s about being sloppy.

[@Cavemale2000]

I don't know what you're reading; most of the comments are positive

[@bentheguru4986]

I bet she is now considering a helmet with full face visor.....

[@jnewzealand4677]

Bloody well done that’s called survival mode !

[@finddeniro]

Hey Moe.. Sum ting happens.. Quiet You. ..Slap... Watts campony..?

[@ascherlafayette8572]

Context: when performing the preflight checks she closed and latched the canopy. She completed the full checklist which includes pulling back on the latch and pushing up on the canopy to confirm it's secure. Unfortunately the latch handle was stuck just slightly forward of the proper lock position, even though it likely felt secure when checked by feel.

[@roxximusik8958]

Sounds like poor design and engineering.

[@ascherlafayette8572]

@roxximusik8958 These canopies are designed to be quickly removable in event of a bailout. It seemed to function well in the Extras I've flown.

[@michaelshive6748]

Imagine doing this in a jet fighter doing Mach Lord Almighty 💀

[@adamb.c.1553]

Breaking news!!! A woman makes decisions that have regrettable consequences. In other news, the sky continues to be blue. #GoGirlPowerGo #TryLockingTheHatch #MaintenanceMuch?

[@iotolaofrocknrolla2795]

She probably forgot to lock it. Duhhhhh

[@funkyboy1190]

That's why I preffer to stay home on the couch playing ps5😅

[@jakehamilton9352]

All that matters is that she's ok. Super calm landing 👍

[@OfficerFredPowell]

Reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson when he drove that Ariel Atom in Top Gear 😆

[@ThatCanadianBrother]

Alhamdulillah.

[@johntruth1004]

did not see the door opened sign flashing on the instrument panel

[@josephburleton9758]

The wind transformed her into Gomer Pyle!

[@arsenal0095]

That's an eye opener to lock the door properly!

[@Yougotadollar]

Boss on her. She looked calm and cool when it happens. Keep your head when the shite hits the fan.

[@Ev1lsp00n]

That canopy wasn't locked down for sure!

[@vdyojunkie1229]

She farted and the plane couldn't handle the smell

[@jonathanstone1081]

She look so cute with some emila airhart style goggles lol

[@hardboiled7467]

Open cockpit, just like the old times

[@jm99497]

Respect to you for your composure, ma'am

[@indrahaseo]

that's why always bring any sunglasses or goggles with pilot are important for it

[@paulb8186]

A ridiculous mistake to make

[@genemaverick5705]

Lock your canopy lady , smh

[@EddieEd148]

Now she knows how WW1 pilots felt

Lesson 1……..always make sure you’re canopy is locked.!!!!🙈

[@geographyinaction7814]

Your canopy

[@teknci9925]

Women ☕

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

Like men don't make piloting mistakes

[@D_Cali_Life]

Never saw it shatter

[@Chaser2]

Get that girl some eye drops

[@rhrh2025]

The canopy didn't shatter, she wasn't terrified, and the situation was handled in the right way!

[@headcheck100]

Canopy opened and shattered

[@mikeemerson9832]

You could see the canopy shatter you dope.

[@nicolomanni822]

That's why you should always bring WW1 glasses with you

[@gwiyomikim5988]

Snoopy & the Red Baron like this comment!

[@troygach9228]

Made in America lol

[@SicMundus24]

NATO is doomed 😂😂😂

[@MOCguy1]

Woman Pilot 🙄

[@nelliethursday1812]

Stupid question here sorry but what kind of gunk can get in her eyes? Bugs dirt. And can she be temporarily blinded and not able to handle the situation. Please no smarty comments.

[@rooroo9216]

Meanwhile I was worried about fragments of the cockpit debris “shattering” when it didn’t it just opened. If any of that blinded her this could’ve turned out way worse

[@bluebottle1988]

She definitely won't make that mistake again and it sounds like she took accountability - so a lot of respect for that. Hope her eyes are okay. Can't imagine how difficult it must be to fly with that much wind pressure hitting your eyeballs.

[@johnc2438]

Shattered? Looks as if it flew open to me. 😮

[@dixonpinfold2582]

I wonder what you think "shattered" means. Watch it again.

[@nurhatisyah2842]

Haha women😂

[@카니언-p3j]

헬멧은 착용하지 않는거죠? 열린다고 해도 헬멧을 착용했다면 눈을 보호했을겁니다. 점검도 중요하고 헬멧착용도 중요합니다

[@pm1104]

Absolutely brilliant …….landed back on the runway …….gliding made easy ! Well done ! ❤

[@dyslexicbatnam1350]

Woman moment

[@sajo3661]

She pressed F 10 by mistake

[@mackydog99]

That's two cockpits unchecked!

[@ggoudey-photo]

What a champion! She kept her calm and landed safely. Bravo!

[@sitisarah826]

Giovanni Jo Jo

[@JS-yj7ow]

Didn’t know Boeing made sailplanes

[@dark-cn9yq]

lol noob

[@skyking6989]

100% preventable. Guaranteed she didnt lock the canopy during preflight. Do your checklist every...single..time.

[@RaiderX948]

Cool as a cucumber, next time you see a "tough" biker riding behind a windscreen think of this woman.

[@LayllasLocker]

This brings me to question dragon riding without proper helmets. 😅

[@MaaKauanSitten]

This machine is most likely bought at the IKEA politically correctamente wharewhouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@spelunkerd]

Another reason to use eyewear.

[@Thijs-Kuiken]

what the video and story doesn't tell you; debris from the canopy fell on a poor farmers head... and he had to be hospitalized.

[@Infarlock]

Her eyes most have been stinging afterwards I remember skiing without eye protection and it was terrible, and this is like x5 the speed

[@paololuckyluke2854]

Let me guess, it was a Boeing…?

[@MrAnders9000]

No it was a Woman

[@paololuckyluke2854]

@@MrAnders9000 🥹😉

[@trickoholix]

Amazing pilot, but did you notice only after she landed safely did her body react to the pain and discomfort of what she went through. The amazing ability of the body to ignore or cope until it is out of danger. Once she was safe, that when she really felt and dealt with the pain. Amazing

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Dang.