Experienced Skydiver Dies After Midair Parachute Collision in Georgia
A tragedy struck this past weekend when 48‑year‑old skydiver Jasmine Black, an experienced jumper with over 160 recorded jumps, was killed after her parachute collided midair with another jumper’s gear at Skydive‑Atlanta. The pair were approaching the landing zone at Thomaston‑Upson County Airport when the accident occurred .
According to Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore, the collision forced Black to execute a “cutaway”—a standard procedure to release a malfunctioning canopy and deploy the reserve parachute. Despite her efforts, the reserve chutes failed to deploy in time, likely due to the low altitude, and she fell to the ground.
Sheriff Kilgore confirmed first responders found Black deceased on the tarmac at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The second jumper involved in the incident landed safely with no serious injuries, per Skydive‑Atlanta Officials.
Skydive‑Atlanta issued a statement expressing grief over the loss, extending condolences to Black’s family and the wider skydiving community. A joint investigation is now underway, led by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in coordination with local law enforcement.
The FAA will assess parachute packing practices, equipment condition, and flight regulations. If no violations are found, the case will be handed entirely to local authorities.
With input from Fox News
