- A tragic accident occurred in 2018 when the head of a veteran wingsuit flyer was severed by a plane’s wing during their aerial paths crossing.
- Alain C, the pilot involved in the incident, is now facing a manslaughter trial in France.
- Nicholas Galy, 40, was one of the passengers on Alain C’s plane and was fatally struck when the aircraft descended.
Shortly after leaping from a plane over the picturesque southern French countryside, wingsuit flyer Nicholas Galy tragically collided with the left wing of the aircraft, resulting in his decapitation at an altitude of approximately 14,400 feet, as revealed during the Montauban court hearing on Tuesday.
According to investigators, Galy, a 40-year-old aeronautical engineer and experienced skydiver, lost his life in the horrifying incident, which took place in July 2018.
The manslaughter trial against Alain C, the pilot of the single-engine plane, is currently underway in France, as reported by French outlet BFMTV.
Alain C, an employee of a local parachuting school, potentially faces a 12-month suspended prison sentence, as recommended by the prosecutors.
The Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Office, as seen by Insider, disclosed in its report that Alain C’s aircraft was carrying Galy and another wingsuit flyer, along with several parachutists, over the Bouloc-en-Quercy region.
After dropping off the passengers, the pilot began a rapid descent, as documented in the report.
Meanwhile, the two wingsuit flyers completed their free falls and initiated gliding with their suits.
Tragically, the aircraft caught up with Galy during this phase, resulting in a fatal collision that not only claimed his life but also activated his emergency parachute, according to the investigators who relied on footage captured by a camera attached to the second wingsuit flyer’s helmet.
Alain C informed the investigators that he had lost sight of Galy and the other wingsuit flyer after they jumped, which he claimed was a normal occurrence. He further mentioned that he veered his plane away from the expected glide paths of the wingsuit flyers.
However, during the court hearings, it was revealed that there had been no communication or coordination of planned trajectories between the pilot and the wingsuit flyers.
“Compared with parachutists who are in free fall, it’s more complicated with wingsuiters who tend to travel in a straight line,” Alain C argued in Montauban court, as reported by The Times of London. “They don’t descend much and can potentially conflict with the aircraft.”
Alain C contended that he had expected Galy to be further north and suggested that the wingsuit flyer had deviated from the expected course. However, prosecutors disputed this claim, asserting that Galy had followed proper procedures without any negligence. “The victim was the only one who obeyed the rules without negligence,” stated prosecutor Jeanne Regagnon, according to The Times.
Alain C denied responsibility for Galy’s death, asserting, “I think my flight path made sense. This has been the tragedy of my life, but I am not at fault.”
Nonetheless, it was discovered that the pilot had violated regulations during the flight in 2018. The investigation report from the air accident bureau indicated that his flying license had a medical restriction at that time, prohibiting him from flying alone.
In the court proceedings, Alain C admitted that his license was invalid for the flight on that particular day.
The Midi-Pyrénées Parachuting School, Alain C’s employer, may also face a fine of $10,600 for allegedly failing to check his license.
During the court session, the president of the parachuting school, Isabelle Deschamps, assured the court that they have improved their security measures and made detailed flight briefings mandatory, as reported by BFMTV.
As of now, there has been no response from the lawyer representing the Midi-Pyrénées Parachuting School.
The verdict for the case is scheduled to be announced on November 21.
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