> with nonfunctional instrument panels This is incorrect. He lost his HUD and the primary flight display, but not the standby instruments. Those are intended a

> with nonfunctional instrument panels This is incorrect. He lost his HUD and the primary flight display, but not the standby instruments. Those are intended as a backup in case the other systems fail, and they did their job and kept operating. You can't use them to fire missiles or keep track of enemy anti–air radar systems, but you can use them to fly the plane, avoid terrain, and land safely. And he didn’t even check to see if they were still working before he ejected.