A pensioner who was given a surprise flight in a £70million fighter jet as a retirement present was flung out at 2500ft after grabbing the ejector seat handle to 'steady himself'.

The astonishing drama is outlined in a newly released report by French aviation investigators who have stern words for their country's Airforce and government throughout.

At times, it reads like a dark comedy film script, as it describes how the unidentified 64-year-old panicked and screamed with fear during his first flight in the Rafale-B which took off from Saint-Dizier airforce base, in north-west France last March.

Then he shot out at high speed, losing his helmet that had not been fastened round his chin properly, before landing in a field close to the German border.

The unidentified 64-year-old panicked and screamed with fear during his first flight in the Rafale-B which took off from Saint-Dizier airforce base, in north-west France last March

His anti-g force suit, worn by aviators who are subject to high acceleration forces and designed to prevent a blackout, had also become loose around the trousers.

It was only through good fortune that the pilot was not ejected by his passenger's actions too – which could have led to a very serious crash.

The pensioner had 'never expressed a desire to take part in a flight like this, and especially not in a Rafale,' reads the report by the Paris-based BEA (Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis).

Despite this, his colleagues at the defence contractor where he had worked for most of his career set up the flight.

'The need to keep the surprise until the moment of the flight,' had hugely risky consequences, especially as regards 'preparation for the flight,' reads the report.

It continues: 'This situation generated a feeling of stress for the passenger, and this was particularly felt during the ejection seat briefing where he had to assimilate a large amount of information in a very short time.

Then he shot out at high speed, losing his helmet that had not been fastened round his chin properly, before landing in a field close to the German border. The plane is marked here 'Avion' in the subsequent incident report

'In addition, the stress of surprise has been magnified by the complete lack of military aviation experience.

'The passenger said he had a complete lack of knowledge of the aeronautical environment and its constraints, having never flown on a military aircraft.'

The 35-year-old captain on the flight, which took off on a sunny afternoon on March 20, had 2000 flying hours behind him.

This included 905 in a Rafale, but he was used to having a military comrade in the back seat of the two-seater jet.

The Rafele-B's command ejection system is meant to fire both seats at once – meaning the pilot feared his seat would fly out at any moment too. Pictured is a stock image of the type of plane they would have been flying

Four of the pensioner's colleagues had turned up with a professional photographer, and they placed a Go-Pro camera on their friend's helmet to film the afternoon flight.

'Faced with a fait accompli on the day of the flight, it was very difficult for him to refuse to participate in the flight,' says the report.

The flight had also been authorised by the French Air Force staff at the request of the Defence Ministry, which also piled pressure on the pensioner who was 'considered a VIP'.

Analysis of radio recordings show that the pilot was in control of the situation. Once informed that his passenger had ejected, the pilot realises that he should have been ejected too.

'He then demonstrated a certain calm following the loss of the rear seat and the canopy.'

The pensioner, meanwhile, had expected a gentle ascent, but the plane 'climbed at 47 degrees', compared to around 10 to 15 degrees for a standard passenger plane.

This was when the Frenchman reached out to hang on to anything he could, and pulled the ejector handle.

There was then a loud bang, with the force of the ejection tearing his unsecured mask and oxygen mask from his face.

The Rafele-B's command ejection system is meant to fire both seats at once – meaning the pilot feared his seat would fly out at any moment.

He managed to land with the use of his parachute and ended up in a field, shocked and with minor injuries.

The report calls on the French Airforce and the Defence Ministry to review its procedures for allowing civilians on military flights.