TOULOUSE, France – A tragic skydiving accident that occurred over three years ago in France has resurfaced in court, with the pilot of the aircraft now facing manslaughter charges. The incident, which resulted in the death of an experienced skydiver, has been described by the pilot as the “tragedy of my life.”
In July 2018, Nicolas Galy, a 40-year-old seasoned parachutist, leaped from a plane at an altitude of 14,000 feet over Bouloc-en-Quercy near Toulouse. Tragically, Galy collided with the plane’s wing just 20 seconds after his jump, resulting in his instant death. The impact was so severe that it decapitated Galy, whose body then descended to the ground as his emergency parachute deployed.
The pilot of the single-engine Pilatus plane, identified only as Alain C., is now facing manslaughter charges in connection with the incident. Alain, who was employed by a parachuting school at the time, has maintained his innocence, arguing that Galy deviated from the planned course.
According to Alain, he was unable to see the wingsuiters and assumed he was clear of them. He admitted that wingsuiters “don’t descend much and can be in conflict with the aircraft,” but insisted that Galy “did not follow the expected course and should never have been on that course.”
Prosecutor Jeanne Regagnon has requested a 12-month suspended prison term and a fine of £8,700 for Alain, arguing that Galy was “the only one who obeyed the rules without negligence.” The court also learned that Alain’s license was invalid at the time of the flight due to a violation of restrictions imposed by France’s aviation authority related to a medical condition.
The verdict in this case is expected to be announced in November. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the inherent risks associated with extreme sports, even for experienced participants. Earlier this summer, a British base jumper died after falling from a mountain in Italy, further highlighting the potential dangers of these activities.