In Tomblaine, eastern France, a civilian aircraft carrying skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 11 individuals on board, including five instructors, five students, and the pilot. Authorities reported that the aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6 registered in Germany, appeared to sustain damage before its vertical descent into a grassy field near the Nancy-Essey aerodrome. While the cause remains under investigation, a technical inquiry has been launched, and the incident has been classified as one of France’s deadliest light aircraft accidents.
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A skydiving plane operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed shortly after takeoff near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri, killing all 12 people on board. The aircraft was unable to gain altitude and made a sharp left turn before impacting the ground. Authorities believe the incident was an accident and are investigating the cause of the crash, with assistance from the NTSB and FAA. The scene was described as a “mass casualty” event, and the recovery and identification of victims will commence once federal investigators complete their initial review.
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A DeHavilland DH-6 Twin Otter carrying 20 passengers and crew crashed near the Tullahoma Regional Airport in Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. Three individuals were airlifted, and one was transported by ground, for treatment of serious injuries, while others received on-site medical attention for minor injuries. No fatalities resulted from the crash, and no ground injuries were reported. The FAA is currently investigating the incident, which involved significant damage to the plane’s tail section.
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As a skydiving instructor in California, I have always been deeply passionate about the exhilaration and freedom that comes with jumping out of an airplane. However, the recent news about a skydiving instructor at a center in Lodi that has seen 28 deaths truly sends shivers down my spine. The fact that this instructor’s certifications were suspended in 2015, yet he continued to train more instructors fraudulently, is utterly appalling. He charged exorbitant amounts for training courses, all while contributing to the deaths of multiple individuals. The mere slap on the wrist of a two-year prison sentence for such egregious behavior is simply not enough.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker