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Australian skydiver forced to cut himself free after parachute caught on plane wing
A skydiver in Australia faced some terrifying mid-air moments after his parachute got caught on the plane wing just after he jumped.
He had to cut himself free as the plane continued on its flight path, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
Video of the harrowing few moments, which occurred on Sept. 20, have been released as part of the findings of an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation into the incident over Mission Beach in Queensland on September 20.
The plane involved was a Cessna Caravan, hired by the Far North Freefall skydive club. The parachute jump was part of the “Big Ways at the Beach” multi-day event in which experienced parachutists jumped and completed large-group formations.
The ATSB said 17 parachutists were on board the flight to perform a “16-way formation jump” from 4,572 metres.
However, as the first parachutist leapt from the aircraft door, the handle of his reserve parachute snagged on a wing flap. Two skydivers were pulled out of the plane.
The skydiver in question was wearing a camera. Another was mounted on the plane’s wing, resulting in filming the incident from multiple angles.
The video released by Australian Transport Safety Bureau shows the parachute being deployed and the man being dragged from the aircraft. Then the chute becomes snagged on the wing, leaving the man hanging.
Another parachutist fell from the plane as this unfolded.
While hanging from the plane, the skydiver cut himself free with a knife and went into freefall. He released his main parachute, landing safely and sustaining only minor injuries.
As the pilot attempted to maintain a level flight, 13 of the parachutists jumped from the aircraft, while two remained, investigators say.
“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,” ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
Despite the damage, the pilot managed to gradually descend while declaring “MAYDAY” to Brisbane Air Traffic Control.
The investigation found that, while not directly contributing to the incident, the pilot and aircraft operator had not ensured the aircraft was loaded within its “weight and balance envelope.”
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