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A giant Cold War bomber gently lifts into the air after rumbling down the runway at a packed air show.

Trouble is, it wasn't meant to fly at all - and crowds had to run for cover as the beast suddenly lurched to the left and headed towards them and a nearby housing estate.

But hero pilot Bob Prothero saved the day by wrestling the Victor bomber away from the terrified spectators and back on the ground during nine seconds of mayhem.

The 75-ton aircraft took off 150ft in the air after an engineer in the cockpit accidentally pushed open the throttle.

Quick-thinking Bob, who last flew a Victor in the 80s, told how he grappled with the controls as the jet banked steeply, threatening to plunge into the ground.

He said: "I was petrified. There wasn't time to think about anything. Everything was pure instinct on that day. It all happened extremely fast. I was shouting at the co-pilot to pull the throttle back.

"For some reason he never did and I saw the nose rise into the air. I thought 'Oh God, how are we going to get out of this one?

"So I had to make a snap decision: 'Do I try to land the plane or do I fly round in a circle and land properly'?' "Because of the crosswind I noticed we were not over the runway.

"Thankfully, I managed to pitch the plane back towards the runway and away from any spectators. My only concern was getting the plane down as quickly as possible. It was the most terrifying nine seconds of my life."

Bob, of Portsmouth, Hants - whose flying licence has long expired - landed the jet on the grass verge. It came to rest in a cloud of dust. He added: "All that was left to do was get out and kiss the ground." Airfield boss director David Walton said: "It was a brilliant piece of airmanship from Bob."

The bomber, nicknamed Teasin Tina, was meant to do a taxi for fans to take pictures at the Cold War Jets day at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, Lutterworth, Leics.

An official report into the incident said the engineer "froze" when Bob, of Portsmouth, Hants, ordered him to shut the throttle and he opened it instead.

The CAA investigated, but said last night no legal action would be taken against the unnamed assistant.

Teasin Tina is one of only two Victors that remain in working order. There was very nearly just one, but for Bob...

Handley-Page Victor

Length: 114ft 11in Wingspan: 110ft Armament: 35 x 1000lb bombs/Blue Steel nuclear missile Speed: 650mph Crew: Five told