Unbelievable video shows the moment an Australian skydiver’s parachute gets snagged on the aircraft’s wing, leaving him dangling 15,000 feet above the ground.
Skydiver Left Dangling by Wing of Plane
The incident occurred on Sept. 20 at around 9:50 a.m. local time, according to a media release from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). A pilot was hired along with a Cessna Caravan by Far North Freefall Club (FNFF), for a 16-way formation jump. The group planned to film the jump at 15,000 feet using a parachuting camera operator.
When the plane reached the agreed-upon altitude, the pilot signaled that the jump could begin. Unfortunately, the first parachutist’s “handle for their reserve parachute snagged on the wing flap, deploying the chute inadvertently” as they were preparing to jump. “This dragged the parachutist suddenly backwards, and their legs struck the aircraft’s left horizontal [stabilizer], substantially damaging it. The parachute then wrapped around the [stabilizer], suspending the parachutist below the aircraft,” the ATSB explained.
“The pilot recalled feeling the aircraft suddenly pitch up, and observed the airspeed rapidly decreasing,” added ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell. “Initially unaware of what had occurred, the pilot believed the aircraft had stalled, and pushed forward on the control column and applied some power in response. But upon being told there was a skydiver hung up on the tailplane, they reduced power again.”
Parachutist Freed Themselves with Quick Thinking
Thirteen of the 17 parachutists present (including the pilot) exited the aircraft in an effort to assist, while two remained onboard “watching as the snagged parachutist used a hook knife to cut 11 lines from their reserve parachute, allowing the remaining parachute to tear, freeing them from the aircraft,” according to the release.
At that point, the trapped parachutist descended into a free fall. They were able to release their main parachute, which, “despite becoming tangled in the remaining lines and canopy of the reserve chute,” fully inflated without issue. They landed safely, incurring only minor injuries in the terrifying episode.
Pilot Declared a Mayday
“With all parachutists out of the aircraft, the pilot assessed they had limited pitch control, given the substantially damaged tailplane, which still had a portion of the reserve parachute wrapped around it,” Mitchell explained. “With forward pressure they found they could achieve a gradual descent, and retracted the flap, which then allowed slightly more rudder, aileron and elevator control.”
The pilot, who wore an emergency parachute, declared a Mayday but was ultimately able to land the plane safely. Amid their investigation, the ATSB “found that the pilot and aircraft operator did not ensure the aircraft was loaded within its weight and balance envelope.” However, this did not contribute to the accident. In the ATSB’s release, Mitchell underscored the importance of carrying the proper equipment when parachuting. “Carrying a hook knife, although it is not a regulatory requirement, could be lifesaving in the event of a premature reserve parachute deployment,” he advised.
