British engineer accidentally took off in XM135 fighter jet in terrifying baptism of fire
Published on Sep 07, 2025 at 11:51 PM (UTC+4)
by Jack Marsh
Last updated on Sep 03, 2025 at 8:53 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A British engineer accidentally took off in an XM135 fighter jet despite not being qualified, in a terrifying baptism of fire in what is now a museum artefact.
There are fewer sticky situations that are more frightening than watching the ground disappear beneath the wings of a plane you’re not qualified to fly.
Well, one can only imagine.
But that’s what happened to British engineer Taffy Holden, whose regulation check on an XM135 fighter jet ended with a ride of a lifetime.
VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie
How an unqualified engineer accidentally flew an XM135 fighter jet
Fighter jets are seriously intense airplanes. Make no mistake, the G-Force that they thrust puts all cars to shame.
The afterburners alone are enough to strike fear into established pilots.
Taffy Holden would find that out the hard way.
One Lightning XM135 fighter jet under Holden’s care suffered persistent cockpit power failures during takeoff runs, and he was running standard checks, driving it down the runway.
However, one day, he accidentally engaged the afterburners and had no option but to pull up into the air.
Only qualified to fly tame planes, this otherworldly beast rocked his world as he fizzed off into the skies.
People have passed out in the co-pilot seats, while even some Navy experts have been candid about how difficult they are to control.
So you can only imagine his surprise.
He had no canopy, helmet, radio, or parachute, leaving only one option…
All’s well that ends well
Thankfully, Holden managed to get it back on the ground. After two failed attempts, the engineer managed to make a soft landing.
The baptized pilot also escaped retribution, as holes in the legislation meant it wasn’t strictly illegal.
As for the jet, it remained in action until 1974 and is now housed at the Imperial War Museum in the UK.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Jack Marsh is a journalist who started his media career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from the University of Chester. As an avid supercar and racing enthusiast, he has a passion for everything from Formula 1 to NASCAR. Whether it's highlighting the intricacies of McLaren’s anti-dive suspension revelations or recognizing celebrities’ multi-million-dollar rides, he has a keen eye for the faster things in life.
