The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released footage showing the moment a skydiver got stuck in the wing of a plane during a jump at Mission Beach, 140 kilometers south of Cairns. The incident, which occurred on September 20, was part of the “Grands chemins à la plage” event, which brought together experienced athletes for large aerial formations.
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The group, made up of 17 skydivers, took off from Tully aboard a Cessna Caravan plane operated by the Far North Freefall club. The formation jump of 16 people would be carried out from an altitude of 4,572 meters. However, as soon as the first athlete left, the reserve parachute strap got stuck in a wing flap.
The camera used by the parachutist and another installed in the fuselage recorded the moment when the equipment accidentally opened and the man was removed from the plane, leaving him suspended in the air.
During his attempt to free himself, another skydiver ended up falling out of the plane’s door. Trapped by the equipment, the athlete used a hook knife to cut part of the straps, going into free fall before activating the main parachute. He landed safely and suffered only minor injuries.
The impact of the trapped parachutist changed the behavior of the plane. According to ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell, the extra weight “threw” the Cessna upwards, reducing its speed and leading the pilot to believe the plane was in trouble. After being informed that a parachutist was attached to the tail, the pilot reduced power and attempted to stabilize the flight. Thirteen athletes jumped, while two remained on board.
With the horizontal stabilizer damaged and part of the parachute still wrapped around the structure, the pilot declared “MAYDAY” to Brisbane air traffic control and prepared his own parachute in case the landing failed. Despite significant damage, he managed to land safely at Tully.
The investigation concluded that the aircraft was not loaded within weight and balance limits, although this was not identified as a direct cause of the incident. The report also stated that the pilot did not use oxygen during the flight at a higher altitude than allowed without supplementation, increasing the risk of hypoxia. S
According to the ATSB, following load and center of gravity calculations prevents loss of control and has helped avoid fatal accidents during skydiving operations in the past.
The Australian Parachuting Federation (APF) is currently developing a guide for loadmasters with specific emergency procedures. The entity assessed that the bulky design of the reserve parachute strap could increase the risk of it becoming entangled in external parts of the aircraft if not properly protected.
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