A young man has tragically died following a freak skydiving accident in northern France.
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Martin Brachet, 21, was killed during a jump on May 24 in Frétoy-le-Château.
Authorities say he was struck in the neck by part of the aircraft moments after exiting, suffering fatal injuries.
Skydiving Accident Claims Life of 21-Year-Old
Investigators believe the tragedy stemmed from a serious communication breakdown between the pilot and those coordinating the jump.
According to French Parachuting Federation president Yves-Marie Guillau, two separate jumps had been scheduled that day.
"There were two jumps planned that day," Guillau said in a statement.
"The pilot leveled the plane in jump configuration and turned on the green light to give the signal to [the] jumpmaster."
The jumpmaster is responsible for coordinating exits from the aircraft and ensuring skydivers can leave safely.
However, investigators say the pilot was unaware that a second skydiver was due to exit during the first jump sequence.
"After the first jump, [the pilot] turned off the green light that authorizes jumps, throttled up and pulled back on the stick to gain altitude," Guillau added.
The change in the aircraft's position would prove catastrophic moments later.
Communication Breakdown Proves Fatal
Guillau said Brachet exited the aircraft as the pilot was already beginning to climb.
"That's when he jumped. He was hit in the neck by the plane's rear wing and died instantly," he said.
"His reserve parachute deployed, but once he hit the ground, it was too late. This lack of information proved fatal."
According to Guillau, the incident highlights how a breakdown in communication can have devastating consequences in aviation and skydiving operations.
He described the tragedy as the result of "a blatant lack of communication," adding that only a matter of seconds separated a routine jump from disaster.
Guillau said the accident may have been avoided had the aircraft remained level or if the pilot had known a second parachutist was preparing to jump.
"There are so many 'ifs,' " Guillau added. " It was a close call. It's doubly tragic."
Following the fatal incident, Skydive Frétoy, the company that organized the jump, was ordered to suspend operations until June 30 while authorities continue their investigation.
