Aircraft transporting skydivers crashes in Tennessee, several individuals hurt according to officials
A twin-propeller plane, operated by Skydive Tennessee, plummeted Sunday afternoon near Tullahoma Regional Airport, precipitating a catastrophic crash. The calamitous incident left several individuals, including one in critical condition, gravely injured. Paired with six hospitalizations, thankfully, no fatalities occurred, as per the Tullahoma Police Department.
The horrifying accident took place approximately 77 miles southeast of Nashville. In the aftermath, Skydive Tennessee confirmed that the aircraft carried 20 licensed skydiving enthusiasts and a pilot—absent any students. Two individuals were promptly released from the hospital, while four landed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, including one critical patient and three stable ones.
The aircraft in question was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, which met its demise during the aborted take-off, as revealed by Skydive Tennessee. A striking image, circulated on social media by Tennessee Highway Patrol, depicted the shattered plane with its nose crushed into the ground and a missing wing.
Remarkably, one of the passengers expressed gratitude towards the pilot, crediting him for sparing their lives. In a heartfelt statement to our platform, the unnamed skydiver stated, "I owe him my life right now. I'm forever indebted to that man." Expressing pride, they marveled at the swift response of their fellow passengers, inching closer to a miraculous escape.
Curiously, the aircraft lacked both a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, dispensing with their legally binding availability, per the NTSB. Confirming the necessary maintenance checks, Skydive Tennessee affirmed that they were up to date before the fateful flight.
Hans Paulsen, Skydive Tennessee’s owner, voiced appreciation for the pilot’s life-saving effort, acknowledging that his intervention averted an even more disastrous outcome. The company extended care and support to investigation proceedings and its community, with Paulsen stating, "While the incident has understandably shaken us all, we're relieved that no one was seriously injured."
The catastrophic rear-end collision between the propeller plane and the ground is currently the subject of an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration [1][2][3][4].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-6_Twin_Otter[2] https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Events/Pages/InvestigationAssets.aspx?eventID=2022/SMS11CAJ9-01S[3] https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Events/Pages/IN-DonAnthonyTN-AlpharettaGA.aspx[4] https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Events/Pages/EventsList.aspx?EventID=10BEAA30759B45D5A6B03B12FBEB9727
- The devastating aviation accident, involving Skydive Tennessee's de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter plane near Tullahoma Regional Airport, has ignited a general-news frenzy, with ongoing investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Amidst the ongoing inquiry, it has come to light that the aircraft, which was carrying 20 licensed skydiving enthusiasts and a pilot, lacked both a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, adding another layer to the mystery surrounding the catastrophic crash.
- As the transport industry grapples with the aftermath of the incident, finance will undoubtedly play a significant role, particularly in addressing any potential compensation claims and ensuring the ongoing safety of skydive operations, as per Skydive Tennessee's commitment.
