A skydiver in Queensland, Australia, survived a terrifying midair emergency after his reserve parachute deployed prematurely and left the man dangling from the tail of a Cessna 208 at 15,000 feet, according to a report released on December 11, 2025, by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The incident, which occurred on September 20 and was captured in dramatic onboard video, involved a group of 16 parachutists planning to jump in formation.
Investigators said the first skydiver moving toward the door had the handle of his reserve parachute catch on a flap on the aircraft’s left wing. The accidental deployment knocked another parachutist into free fall and then pulled the first jumper backward, where he became entangled eith the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer. The video shows the person hanging below the tail as the pilot fought to keep the aircraft level.
Even as the aircraft pitched up sharply, 13 parachutists continued with their planned jump, exiting past the stranded skydiver. The skydiver, who has logged more than 2,000 jumps over 21 years, began cutting away the lines from the snagged reserve parachute using a hook knife attached to his chest — equipment the safety bureau said likely saved his life.
Once freed, the parachutist deployed the main canopy, disentangled it from the remnants of the reserve chute, and landed safely with only minor injuries to his legs from hitting the side of the aircraft.
A parachuting camera operator who had been holding onto the exterior of the fuselage was knocked free when the reserve parachute deployed. That person landed first, sustaining a minor shoulder injury. The final two parachutists also jumped once they saw the trapped diver cut themselves clear.
The pilot said he initially did not know what had happened but felt the airplane slow abruptly and pitch up. Wearing an emergency parachute, the pilot stabilized the aircraft, considered bailing out after the group had exited, and ultimately landed the damaged airplane safely at Tully Airport.
In its report, the safety bureau faulted the Far North Freefall Club — the operator of the flight — and the pilot for not ensuring the aircraft was properly loaded for weight and balance, though it determined that factor did not contribute to the parachute snag or the subsequent emergency. The club said it has since strengthened its procedures, including requiring all parachutists to carry a hook knife and reinforcing weight-and-balance checks before flight.
Stephen Porter, chief executive of the Australian Parachute Federation, called the situation “unique and extreme” in comments to ABC Australia and praised both the skydiver and the pilot for their composed actions under pressure.
“All things considered, everyone walked away,” Porter said. “That’s the best possible outcome in an event like this.”
