In the south of France, a tragic accident occurred involving wingsuit skydiver Nicolas Galy, 40, and a plane. A mere 20 seconds after Galy jumped from a single-engine Pilatus plane at an altitude of 14,000 feet above Bouloc-en-Quercy, he crashed into contact with the aircraft’s wing.
The aircraft, steered by 64-year-old pilot known as “Alain C,” descended after the skydivers jumped. As the divers glided through the sky in their wingsuits, the plane caught up with them. This resulted in a collision between the plane’s left wing, a strut, and Galy, leading to Galy’s decapitation. Following the collision, Galy’s emergency parachute deployed, and he landed in a field.
Currently, Alain C faces manslaughter charges in Montauban. Prosecutors believe his actions played a significant role in the tragic accident. However, Alain disputes these accusations, claiming Galy took an unexpected route, leading him to misjudge the skydiver’s location. “I believe my flight path was appropriate,” Alain stated. He conveyed the profound emotional toll the incident took on him, while maintaining he wasn’t at fault.
Further details emerged during the trial. Alain, an employee at a nearby skydiving school, had not briefed the skydivers before their jump. He confessed to losing sight of the wingsuit divers and wrongly presumed he was clear of them, despite knowledge that wingsuit divers descend more slowly and could cross the plane’s path. The court also learned that Alain was piloting with an expired license due to issues tied to a medical condition.
Prosecutor Jeanne Regagnon highlighted Galy’s adherence to standard jumping procedures on the day of the accident. She has proposed a 12-month suspended sentence for Alain and a fine of over $10,000 for the skydiving school he worked at.
A verdict is expected to be delivered in November.
