Jump Pilot Blames Skydiver For Fatal Midair Collision

The pilot of a jump plane has testified he believes a wing-suited skydiver was to blame for a midair collision with the aircraft that resulted in the jumper's decapitation. The pilot, identified as Alain C., is facing manslaughter charges in a French court in the death of Nicholas Galy in July of 2018. After 10 skydivers departed the aircraft at 14,400 feet, the pilot told the court he veered away from their expected path and began a steep descent. The wing and strut of the plane (type unknown) hit Galy about 20 seconds later. Another skydiver's helmet cam caught the whole grisly sequence and it was key evidence in the resulting investigations.

Alain C. said his actions "made sense" and that Galy and another man in a wingsuit “did not follow the expected course and should never have been on that course.” After the collision, Galy's body fell until his reserve parachute was deployed by an automatic activation device and it landed in a field. “This has been the tragedy of my life, but I am not at fault," the pilot testified. The incident happened in the French Pyrenees.