Dramatic Footage Shows Skydiver Snagged on Plane Tail by Parachute

The parachutist’s reserve chute had deployed unexpectedly, which dragged him into the air.

The skydiver is shown dangling from the plane before cutting himself free. Courtesy of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released remarkable footage showing the moment a skydiver became entangled on the tail of a plane by his parachute, forcing him to cut himself free.

The incident unfolded on Sept. 20 after a small Cessna flying members of the Far North Freefall Skydiving club took off from Tully in North Queensland with 17 parachutists on board ready for a 16-way formation jump at 15,000 feet over Mission Beach.