A planned formation skydive over northeastern Australia took a terrifying turn when a reserve parachute became entangled on the plane — leaving a skydiver dangling about 15,000 feet in the air.
The skydiver survived the incident by using a knife to cut free from the plane and deploying the main parachute, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a report released Thursday, alongside video footage that showed the accident in detail. The report did not identify those involved.
Sixteen skydivers and a camera operator were due to carry out the jump Sept. 20. But the problems began as soon as the first person prepared to jump out of the small aircraft: The handle for their reserve parachute became caught on the plane’s wing flap and deployed, trapping the skydiver below the horizontal stabilizer. During the deployment, the skydiver’s legs hit the stabilizer, damaging it.
The camera operator, who was positioned on a small step on the outside of the aircraft to film the formation, was knocked off and sent into free-fall.
A camera on the plane captured the skydiver dangling before they used a hook knife to cut through 11 lines from the reserve chute. The skydiver was freed and deployed the main parachute. Though it tangled with the remains of the reserve chute, it was still able to inflate fully, and both the skydiver and camera operator landed with only minor injuries.
ATSB’s report noted that a knife was stored on the aircraft as required by emergency regulations but that it would not have been accessible to the skydiver dangling from the wing flap. The hook knife attached to the skydiver’s chest was not required by regulations at the time. As a result of the accident, the club that organized the jump now mandates parachutists carry one.
Despite the damage to the plane’s horizontal stabilizer and a piece of the parachute wrapped around the tail, the plane was able to land at Queensland’s Tully Airport.
“In difficult circumstances, the pilot managed to control the aircraft and land safely at Tully,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a news release.
The ATSB said that the pilot and plane operator had not followed weight and balance requirements, though it noted that this had not contributed to the incident.
“Carrying a hook knife — although it is not a regulatory requirement — could be lifesaving in the event of a premature reserve parachute deployment,” Mitchell added.
Stephen Porter, the chief executive of the Australian Parachute Federation, told Australia’s ABC News that the situation was “unique and extreme.”
“Fortunately, in this case, the parachutist had a functioning main parachute as an option,” he said, and he praised the pilot’s preparation and quick and calm response to the situation.
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