Skydiving fatality in Shilovsky district, Ryazan Oblast, Russia, 4 October 2026

What happened

What happened

Skydiver was an experienced parachutist with approximately 3,000 jumps. He had participated in major formation skydiving achievements, including a 2019 world-record formation in which a team of 22 skydivers sequentially built four formations in freefall. He was also associated with a group known as the “Sergeys” formation team.

According to Russian media reports, the accident occurred during a group jump involving aircraft departing from Krutitsy airfield. Some reports stated that the jump was planned from an altitude of approximately 6,000 metres (19,700 feet).

During the final approach, skydiver reportedly experienced an abnormal situation under his parachute. According to eyewitness accounts cited by Russian media, the canopy behaved unstably and abruptly pitched forward at approximately six metres above the ground. Other reports described his final manoeuvre before landing as particularly aggressive.

Skydiver struck the ground and sustained severe injuries. He was transported to a hospital but subsequently died.

Sources: Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, as reported by Ryazan Vedomosti and other Russian media; Kommersant; Fontanka; Moscow 24.

Sources

• www.vedomosti.ru Media