Heart-stopping footage released by Australian authorities shows the moment a skydiver was left dangling thousands of metres in the air after their parachute caught on the plane's tail.
The skydiver survived the incident, which occurred south of Cairns during a stunt in September but has only just been revealed following investigations by the transport safety watchdog.
Plans for a 16-way formation by parachutists at 15,000 feet (4600 metres), filmed by a parachuting camera operator, hit chaos within seconds of the first participant reaching the plane's exit.
A video released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau showed the participant's reserve parachute being activated after its handle snagged the wing flap of the plane.
The jumper was flung backwards - their legs striking the aircraft - as the orange reserve parachute wrapped itself around the plane's tail.
An investigation into a 'premature parachute deployment' on a skydiving flight in Far North Queensland has released video and findings into the incident. Photo: Screenshot / ATSB
The parachuter also knocked the camera operator, who was straddling the side of the aircraft and preparing to jump, into freefall, the bureau said in a report that did not include names, ages, or genders.
The jumper was seen placing their hands on their helmet for a few seconds, as if in shock.
While dangling over the terrifying drop, the jumper cut the strings of the reserve chute with a hook knife and freed themself, the bureau said.
The parachuter then deployed their main chute and landed safely on the ground.
"Carrying a hook knife - although it is not a regulatory requirement - could be lifesaving in the event of a premature reserve parachute deployment," said the bureau's chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.
The aircraft's tail was "substantially damaged" by the incident and the pilot had limited control of the plane, issuing a mayday distress call, but managed to safely land the plane.
- AFP
