Nicolas Galy, a 40-year-old wingsuit skydiver, faced a grievous accident in the South of France when he collided with a plane a mere 20 seconds after his jump. The accident took place at a height of 14,000 feet above Bouloc-en-Quercy, shortly after Galy exited a single-engine Pilatus plane.
The plane, piloted by “Alain C,” aged 64, began its descent after Galy and another skydiver had leapt. As the skydivers were navigating their way through the sky in wingsuits, the plane approached them, leading to a catastrophic collision between its left wing, a strut, and Galy. This incident led to his decapitation and the tragic end of Galy’s life. His emergency parachute was subsequently triggered, and his body touched down in a field.
There are now manslaughter charges against Alain C in Montauban, with authorities believing that his decisions played a pivotal role in the mishap. Alain C, however, refutes these charges, attributing the accident to Galy’s unforeseen flight pattern, which caused him to misunderstand the skydiver’s whereabouts. Alain communicated the emotional impact of this incident on him while emphasizing that he was not culpable.
Further details have been uncovered during the trial. Alain C, an employee of a skydiving school in the area, failed to instruct the skydivers before their endeavor. He acknowledged that he lost sight of the wingsuit flyers and mistakenly believed he had passed them, even with the understanding that wingsuit skydivers descend at a slower pace and might come in the plane’s way. Another revelation from the trial was that Alain C was operating the plane with an expired license due to health concerns.
In the trial, Prosecutor Jeanne Regagnon emphasized Galy’s compliance with regular jump protocols on that day. She suggests a 12-month suspension for Alain C and a fine exceeding $10,000 for the skydiving institution where he was employed.
The final judgment is anticipated to be passed in November.
