Skydiving Instructor Dies After Mid-Air Separation During Student’s First Jump
Stock photo (Getty Images/Mauricio Graiki)
A skydiving outing in Nashville ended in tragedy Saturday when an instructor became separated from his student mid-air and crashed to his death. The circumstances leading to the separation remain unclear.
The jump was organized by Go Skydive Nashville out of John C. Tune Airport. According to the company’s website, instructors are equipped with both a main and reserve parachute, while students wear a tandem harness designed to securely attach them to their instructor, NBC News reports.
Authorities identified the instructor as a 35-year-old man who was believed to have fallen without a parachute. His body was found near Ashland City Highway, northwest of downtown Nashville, according to the New York Times.
The student, making his first jump, landed with an open parachute in a tree along the same highway and was stranded for several hours. He sustained only minor injuries, the Nashville Fire Department said. The identities of those involved have not been released, pending family notification.
Three other skydivers on the same flight landed safely, police said. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation but has not yet commented publicly. Go Skydive Nashville confirmed it is cooperating with authorities and reaffirmed its commitment to safety.
A passerby reported that the rescued student told him, “It was his first jump, and it was going to be his last,” according to the Times.
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