Back before I escaped from ADGE to Satcom, I remember the Fighter Controllers recounting how one of their brethren had done something similar from the back of a Hawk during the mid-80s. The analysis wasn't as forgiving as the one in this article!
Funny you should mention that......last night, I was told a similar story by a Sq Ldr about a fighter controller grabbing the handle who swears blind that he never touched anything. Wonder if it's the same guy.
Also told a story about a Middle Eastern visitor who banged out, got a taxi home and sat reading a paper in the mess saying "Me? No. I haven't been flying today....and no, that's not my signature."