Skydiving plane crashed – and there is a happy ending

SKJYDIGNG
SKJYDIGNG
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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Lake Taupo in New Zealand is a popular tourist destination, especially during the current Southern Hemisphere summer when one of the major tourist attractions is skydiving.

Lake Taupo in New Zealand is a popular tourist destination, especially during the current Southern Hemisphere summer when one of the major tourist attractions is skydiving.

On Wednesday, 6 tourists that signed up to jump had an unexpected adventure. All 13 people aboard a New Zealand skydiving plane that suffered an apparent engine failure on Wednesday managed to jump out in parachutes moments before the plane plunged into a lake, according to authorities.

According to a local police spokesperson there were six passengers, six crew members and a pilot aboard the plane operated by Skydive Taupo.

Each of the crew members had planned to tandem dive with one of the passengers, and they managed to do just that as they abandoned the aircraft after the apparent engine failure. She said the pilot also leaped to safety in a parachute.

Roy Clements, the chief executive of Skydive Taupo, said in a brief statement the plane encountered an engine problem shortly after it had taken off. He said transport authorities were on their way to the crash site to begin an investigation.

On its website, the company offers skydives from up to 15,000 feet which come with up to one minute of freefall: “You shimmy to the door until your feet are dangling over the edge. 3..2…1. out you go!!!!!” the company’s site says.

It was unclear whether any of those aboard landed their parachutes in the water or whether they all managed to maneuver them to shore before landing. Police initially said the pilot landed in the water and swam ashore but Perks said more recent information indicates the pilot may made it to shore before landing.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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