Skydiver hangs from plane in mid-flight after parachute accident in Australia, video shows
What was supposed to be the climax of an Australian air show – 16 skydivers in formation, jumping from 15,000 feet – went horribly wrong as the cameraman and first skydiver walked through the gate at Tully Airport in far north Queensland.
A reserve parachute deployed by mistake, throwing the cameraman into free fall and throwing the parachutist into the plane’s stabilizer on the wing.
Dramatic video of the September 20 incident was released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on Thursday. In its final report, the agency found that the handle of the emergency parachute had snagged on the plane’s wing flap, causing it to deploy.
As he swung beneath the Cessna, the skydiver used a hook knife to saw through the lines of the reserve parachute one by one, until it finally broke free. But there was another tense moment after the main parachute became tangled with the remains of the reserve canopy.
The skydiver managed to untangle the lines and gain control before landing safely on the ground with only minor injuries, according to the ATSB. The Cessna’s left horizontal stabilizer was also damaged, but it ultimately landed safely.
In a statement, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the incident should serve as a reminder to skydivers to be careful of their handholds, particularly when leaving an aircraft.
“Carrying a hook knife – although not a regulatory requirement – could save lives in the event of premature deployment of a reserve parachute,” Mitchell said.
