Video: Skydiver's parachute gets stuck on plane's tail at 15,000ft
What's the story
A skydiving accident in Far North Queensland, Australia, went awry when one of the skydiver's parachutes got caught on the plane's tail, leaving him dangling from the Cessna Caravan aircraft at 15,000 feet. The incident took place on September 20 when the handle of the reserve parachute got snagged on a wing flap during a jump run over Tully Airport. This caused the parachute to deploy prematurely and the skydiver was pulled backward and left dangling from the aircraft.
Twitter Post
Scary moment was recorded on camera
🚨#BREAKING: Watch wild footage as a skydiver's parachute gets caught on the tail of a plane, leaving him dangling 15,000 feet in the air over
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 11, 2025
📌#Queensland | #Australia.
Watch dramatic footage capturing the heart-stopping moment a skydiver became trapped beneath an aircraft… pic.twitter.com/Hk6EGxv7ee
Aircraft damage
Skydiver's reserve parachute deployment damages aircraft
The sudden deployment of the reserve parachute damaged the Cessna Caravan's left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot noticed a sudden pitch up of the aircraft and saw airspeed rapidly decreasing. Initially thinking that the aircraft had stalled, he pushed forward on the control column and applied power to regain control, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)'s chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, said.
Emergency declaration
Skydivers exit aircraft, pilot declares emergency
While the pilot was trying to regain control, 13 other skydivers aboard the aircraft exited. Two stayed back to help the snagged parachutist who used a knife to cut 11 lines from his reserve parachute. This action tore the chute and freed him from the plane. He then deployed his main parachute and landed safely with minor injuries.
Emergency landing
Pilot manages emergency landing after skydiver rescue
The pilot, still unable to regain full control of the aircraft, declared a "mayday" distress call to air traffic controllers. He prepared to jump out himself but decided against it after descending about 2,500 feet. He then managed an emergency landing with limited pitch control due to the damaged tailplane. The incident was recorded by a camera operator on board and submitted for investigation by the ATSB.