In the south of France, wingsuit skydiver Nicolas Galy, 40, collided with a plane’s wing shortly after his jump. 

The incident occurred 20 seconds after Galy exited from a single-engine Pilatus plane at 14,000 feet above the town of Bouloc-en-Quercy in July 2018.

The aircraft, piloted by a man identified as “Alain C,” 64, descended following the skydivers’ exit. It caught up with the divers as they glided in their wingsuits. The plane’s left wing and a strut made slammed into Galy, resulting in his decapitation. After this, Galy’s emergency parachute was activated, and his body landed in a field.

Alain C, later charged with manslaughter, is now on trial in Montauban. Prosecutors assert that his actions directly contributed to the accident. Alain, however, countered these claims, stating Galy did not follow the anticipated course, leading him to believe the skydiver was in a different location. “I think my flight path made sense,” Alain testified. He added that the incident deeply impacted him, but he does not view himself as culpable.

Additionally, it was revealed that Alain, who worked at a local skydiving school, had not provided the skydivers with a pre-jump briefing. He admitted to losing visual contact with the wingsuit jumpers, assuming he was clear of them, despite knowing that wingsuit divers descend at a slower rate and might intersect with the aircraft’s trajectory. The trial also unveiled that Alain was flying with an expired license due to violations related to a medical condition.

Prosecutor Jeanne Regagnon emphasized Galy’s adherence to protocols on the jump day. She has recommended a 12-month suspended sentence for Alain and a fine exceeding $10,000 for his skydiving school.

A verdict is anticipated in November.