Jets Captured On Helmet Cameras Worn By The Skydivers

A pair of skydivers had a close encounter with two USAF F-15s in the skies over the U.K. in April, and the cameras on the helmets of the skydivers captured the incident.

Fox News reports that the incident occurred over Chatteris Airfield in Cambridgeshire. According to a report released Thursday by the U.K. Airprox board, the fighters were unaware that they were flying below the two skydivers who were freefalling at about 120 mph.

The Airprox Board said that the cause of the incident was likely a miscommunication with air traffic control. “The controller had not realized the F-15s were heading towards Chatteris prior to them calling on the frequency and therefore was not able to pre-empt their call and provide a warning,” the report stated. “This was likely because the controller was busy and therefore distracted by other work-related tasks.”

The planes had diverted away from their original flight plan to avoid a refueling tanker. During the diversion, they were handed off by a controller at Royal Air Force Coningsby to one at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a station for the USAF 48th Fighter Wing.

According to the report, the jets can be seen in the GoPro footage passing beneath the skydivers. “Once the parachutists had seen the F-15s there was very little they could do to avoid the situation, having no control over their speed or direction whilst in free-fall,” the report said.

The board did not establish a precise distance between the skydivers and the aircraft, but the skydivers said they felt the risk of a collision was "medium".

(USAF image)

FMI: Source report