A routine 16-way skydiving formation south of Cairns turned into a life-or-death emergency when a skydiver’s reserve parachute accidentally deployed and snagged on the aircraft’s tail at 4,600 metres. Heart-stopping footage shows the jumper flung backward, dangling from the plane as the pilot issues a mayday due to tail damage. Using a hook knife, the skydiver cut himself free mid-air before deploying his main chute and surviving the terrifying fall.
00:00Today, we're looking at a heart-stopping incident in Australia.
00:30One that skydiving experts are calling a one-in-a-million survival.
00:35A skydiver falling from 4,600 meters, a parachute that snags on a plane, and a pilot forced to issue a mayday call midair.
00:46This is how it unfolded.
00:48The incident happened in September, south of Cairns, during what was supposed to be a routine stunt jump, a 16-way formation by experienced parachutists.
01:00They were jumping from 15,000 feet, and everything was being recorded by a camera operator positioned at the aircraft's door.
01:08But within seconds, the entire plan descended into chaos.
01:13As the first participant reached the exit, their reserve parachute handle snagged on the plane's wing flap.
01:20The reserve chute instantly deployed.
01:23The skydiver was slung backwards, their legs striking the aircraft as the bright orange parachute wrapped around the plane's tail.
01:31And it didn't end there.
01:33The force of the accident knocked the camera operator, who was straddling the door, into unexpected freefall.
01:40For a moment, there was pure disorientation.
01:44The skydiver, now hanging helplessly from the tail of a moving aircraft, can be seen in the footage placing their hands on their helmet.
01:53A brief, human moment of shock, at more than four kilometers above the ground.
01:59But then, training took over.
02:02While dangling over a terrifying drop, the jumper reached for a hook knife, a small, lightweight tool that's not even required by regulations.
02:11Meticulously, they cut through the reserve chute lines, one by one, until they were finally free.
02:20Once clear of the aircraft, the skydiver deployed their main parachute and descended safely to the ground.
02:27Angus Mitchell, the chief commissioner of Australia's Transport Safety Bureau, later said that carrying a hook knife could be life-saving in the event of a premature reserve deployment.
02:38This incident may be the perfect example.
02:41Meanwhile, the pilot was facing an emergency of his own.
02:45The aircraft's tail had been substantially damaged, limiting control and stability.
02:51He issued a mayday call, but in spite of the damage, managed to bring the plane safely back to the ground.
02:58An incredible outcome, when you consider just how bad this could have been.
03:03From a parachute tangled on a plane's tail, to a dangerous mid-air rescue using a single hook knife,
03:10to a crippled aircraft making a safe landing, this incident is a reminder of the skill, training, and quick thinking that can make the difference between tragedy and survival.
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