Skydiver left dangling 15,000 feet after parachute entangles on airplane tail

Adrian Ferguson (right) suferred leg injuries. PIC/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Australian accident investigators on Thursday released images of a skydiver's parachute becoming entangled on an airplane's tail, leaving him dangling 15,000 feet.

The skydiver, Adrian Ferguson, used a hook knife to cut himself free and sustained minor leg injuries during the incident on September 20 that began at Tully Airport in Queensland state.

The pilot and 16 other parachutists on board the Cessna Caravan that day were not hurt. The plane reached the desired altitude where the skydivers were planning to execute a 16-way formation jump. A 17th parachutist was at an open door waiting to capture videos.

Ferguson was leaving the plane when the ripcord of his reserve chute became snagged on a wing flap. His legs then struck the trail's horizontal stabiliser before the chute tangled around it and left him dangling.

Ferguson used a knife to cut 11 lines that enabled him to fall from the plane with part of the torn chute. He released his main chute, which fully inflated despite becoming entangled with remnants of the reserve chute, and he landed safely.

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