• His reserve parachute got caught on the plane during the jump
• He managed to free himself and landed safely

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released aerial footage and a detailed report showing how a skydiver escaped a disaster at Tully Airport in far-north Queensland after his reserve parachute became entangled with the aircraft during jump preparations.

The Cessna Caravan was carrying 17 skydivers, including a dedicated video operator, and had climbed to about 15,000 feet in preparation for a 16-person group jump.

As the first jumper began exiting the plane, the handle of his reserve parachute snagged on a wing flap, causing the chute to deploy prematurely and pulling him backward against the aircraft’s horizontal tail, also injuring the onboard cameraman.

The released video shows the suspended skydiver using a hook knife to cut the lines of the reserve parachute, eventually freeing himself and entering a controlled freefall.

He was able to deploy his main parachute despite the entanglement and landed safely with only minor injuries.

Although the pilot initially struggled to control the plane due to tail damage and strong aerodynamic turbulence, he managed to stabilize it and return safely to Tully Airport.

Aviation safety experts note that the incident highlights the inherent dangers of skydiving operations, especially when specialized equipment deploys unintentionally near the aircraft structure.

The footage and findings are expected to help update safety guidelines for parachute operations and training programs in Australia, emphasizing the importance of carrying cutting tools like hook knives in emergencies, even though they are not always mandatory.