A tragic accident during a skydiving training session claimed the life of a 41-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) officer, Ram Kumar Tiwari, on Saturday in Agra, after his parachute failed to open during a ‘demo drop’ exercise.
Tiwari, a Warrant Officer and para jump instructor with the elite Akash Ganga Skydiving Team, jumped from a helicopter at an altitude of around 1,000 feet. However, his parachute malfunctioned mid-air, leading to a fatal fall.
He was immediately rushed to the military hospital, but succumbed to his injuries within a few hours.
Originally from Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, Tiwari had joined the Indian Air Force in 2002 and was living in Air Force residential quarters in Agra with his wife and two sons.
Confirming the incident, the Indian Air Force issued a statement:
“A para jump instructor from Akash Ganga Skydiving Team succumbed to injuries sustained during a demo drop at Agra today. The IAF deeply mourns the loss and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, standing firmly with them in this hour of grief.”
According to Sadar Bazar Police Station SHO Viresh Pal Giri, the unfortunate incident occurred during a demonstration drill, not a routine jump.
This is the second such fatal incident in Agra this year. In February 2025, Junior Warrant Officer Manju Nath (36) from Karnataka died during a routine para jump at Malpura dropping zone when his parachute also failed to deploy in time.
These repeated accidents have raised serious concerns over the safety protocols and equipment used during skydiving exercises in the armed forces.
