Overview
- The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released footage from a September 16-way formation jump south of Cairns showing a reserve parachute opening on exit and snagging on the aircraft.
- The reserve handle caught on a flap, the canopy wrapped around the elevator and damaged the tail at roughly 4,600 meters altitude.
- The trapped skydiver severed the reserve lines with a cutting tool, then deployed the main parachute and landed safely.
- The pilot declared a mayday after losing full control authority but brought the aircraft down safely despite significant tail damage.
- A cameraman was struck during the entanglement and fell away, and authorities withheld personal details while noting the cutting tool is not standard equipment.