Blasted out at 20 times the force of gravity: what ejection from a fighter jet does to the body

F15E fighter jet. CSWFoto / Shutterstock.com

Three US F-15E fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait in the early hours of Monday (March 2) in an apparent friendly fire incident during Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israel campaign against Iran.

All six crew members ejected safely and are in a stable condition – but “safely” is a relative term when you’re being blasted out of a stricken aircraft travelling at combat speed.

Decisions to eject are not taken lightly, but often only...