To activate the explosive ejection seat system in a military aircraft to escape an unrecoverable emergency. The term is used both as a directive command during a crisis and as a descriptive verb for abandoning the aircraft. Pilots train to execute this maneuver only when all other recovery options are exhausted, as the extreme physical forces involved often cause injuries.
Heard on the job
Engine two is on fire and we're losing hydraulics, prepare to punch out.
Insider tip
The physical toll of an ejection is so severe that military pilots are typically grounded for medical review immediately after they punch out.
Also heard as
- bail out
- eject