IAF Instructor Dies During Skydiving 'Demo Drop' In Agra, Second Incident In 2 Months
An IAF para jump instructor from the Akash Ganga skydiving team, Warrant Officer RK Tiwari, died during a demonstration jump in Agra due to a suspected technical glitch in the parachute
A para jump instructor from the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Akash Ganga skydiving team died during a demonstration jump in Agra on Saturday, the IAF confirmed in a statement.
“A Para Jump Instructor from the IAF’s Akash Ganga Skydiving Team succumbed to injuries sustained during a Demo Drop at Agra today. The IAF deeply mourns the loss, and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, standing firmly with them in this hour of grief,” the force stated in its post.
A Para Jump Instructor from the IAF’s Akash Ganga Skydiving Team succumbed to injuries sustained during a Demo Drop at Agra today. The IAF deeply mourns the loss, and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, standing firmly with them in this hour of grief.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 5, 2025
According to police, the incident took place around 9.30 am during a skydiving demonstration exercise by the Akash Ganga team. The deceased, identified as Warrant Officer RK Tiwari, aged 41, hailed from Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. He was part of the Paratrooper Training School of the Indian Armed Forces.
Police Suspect Technical Glitch In Parachute Used
Sub-Inspector Farooq Khan, in charge of Agra’s Lal Kurti police outpost, told Hindustan Times, “The deceased was identified as Warrant Officer RK Tiwari. He died at the Military Hospital, Agra, due to the injuries he suffered during the exercise.”
Police said information about the death was communicated to them around 1 pm, with the fatal incident reported to have occurred around 11.30 am. “Prima facie, the deceased had sustained injuries because of falling from a height,” added Khan.
According to HT, S-I Khan further stated, “The exact reason for the death is to be assigned by technical teams, but it appears to have been caused because of a technical glitch in the parachute used. The warrant officer had head and leg injuries. The body was sent to SN Medical College and Hospital for a post mortem examination.”
This incident comes less than two months after a similar tragedy on 7 February this year, when another IAF personnel died during a routine para jumping exercise at the Malpura dropping zone of the defence forces in Agra.
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