BTW, the story itself is genuine, I’m sure of that (Southampton Airport is a stone’s throw from where I live)
Think of it this way: You’re not being sucked out, your being pushed out by the mass of air behind you [sub]which is being propelled by the pressure difference between the inside and outside pressures[/sub].
Tripler
Aaah, technicalities.
I realised that, but I’ve heard a lot of people state that there is no danger of being sucked(blown) out of a plane if the window breaks.
IANAFD, but theoretically this is true, once the pressure equalizes.
Tripler
I am not a fluid dynamicist.
You know, it just occurred to me that this isn’t so much theory. You don’t see paratroopers being sucked out of the open doorway after it’s opened. . . 
Tripler
Quick thinking was never one of my strong points.
Ah, but the paratroopers aren’t cruising at 30,000" in a presurized cabin.
What constitutes a HALO jump? How are they done?
Paratroopers jump from non-pressurized cabins, while flying at comparatively slow speeds and low altitudes. A 747 might travel at 600-700 kmph, definitely waaay too fast to jump.
As for what constitutes a HALO jump: You see, in the standard military jump you just jump off the back of the plane, and a cord opens the chute for you. Its that simple.
In a HALO jump (High Altitude Low Opening), you jump from a much greater height, wait until you fall below the radar coverage, and THEN open the chute yourself. Obviously, its not a particularly safe practice. HALO jumps are only done when you need a small number of special forces on the ground quietly.