A skydiver in Australia was forced to cut free from a tangled reserve parachute after it prematurely deployed and wrapped around the tail of a Cessna Caravan aircraft. The incident, which occurred last September during the Big Ways at the Beach event over Tully Airport, Queensland, saw the athlete safely land with minor injuries. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released investigation results and a video of the dramatic event on 11/12.

The event involved 17 experienced skydivers preparing for a "16-person formation jump" from nearly 4,600 meters. As the first athlete exited the plane, the handle of a reserve parachute was pulled out, striking the aircraft's horizontal stabilizer and causing the parachute to deploy unintentionally.

Footage from a camera mounted under the wing showed the orange parachute wrapping tightly around the horizontal stabilizer, leaving the skydiver dangling below. Another person clinging to the aircraft door was also thrown off.

In this perilous situation, the trapped athlete used a folding knife to cut each line of the reserve parachute, freeing himself. He then deployed his main parachute, though remnants of the reserve parachute remained tangled, posing an ongoing risk.

The athlete calmly managed the situation, regained control, and landed safely, sustaining only minor injuries. The pilot initially noticed the aircraft suddenly "pitch up" and its speed rapidly decrease. Believing there was an engine issue, the pilot increased throttle. Upon being informed of an athlete trapped at the tail, the pilot reduced speed.

Angus Mitchell, a senior ATSB official, stated that carrying a folding knife, though not mandatory equipment, can save a skydiver's life if a reserve parachute deploys prematurely. The ATSB determined that the aircraft was not loaded according to regulations, but clarified this was not the incident's cause.

Duc Trung (According to ABC 7 News)