In a tragic incident, Junior Warrant Officer (JWO) Manjunath GS of the Indian Air Force (IAF) tragically lost his life during a routine training exercise at the Paratrooper Training School (PTS) in Agra. The 36-year-old paratrooper, originally from Shivamogga district in Karnataka, was participating in a scheduled parachute jump from an AN-32 aircraft when his parachute reportedly failed to deploy.
According to an official communique from the IAF to the Agra Police, the incident unfolded around 8:30 AM when a group of 12 paratroopers took off from the PTS aboard the AN-32, which is a front-line transport and cargo aircraft utilized by the IAF. Following the jump, while 11 paratroopers managed to land safely within the designated drop zone, JWO Manjunath did not return with the team, prompting an immediate search operation.
The search efforts led to his discovery in a wheat field near Sutendhi village, under the jurisdiction of Malpura Police Station, where he was found critically injured. JWO Manjunath’s parachute had failed to deploy properly, resulting in a severe fall. He was quickly rushed to the IAF hospital; unfortunately, he was declared dead upon arrival.
In response to the incident, the IAF has initiated a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the accident. A senior official from the Parachute Regiment highlighted that during such exercises, paratroopers are equipped with two parachutes: a main parachute designed to deploy automatically after a static line jump or at 1,500 feet during free fall, and a reserve parachute which must be manually activated in case of a failure of the primary parachute.
Occurrences of reserve parachute entanglement are rare but can happen, particularly if the main parachute is not properly cut away before deploying the reserve system. A specialized team from the IAF will meticulously examine the parachute deployment mechanism, including aspects such as locks and harnesses, investigate possible technical malfunctions or procedural lapses, and evaluate environmental factors, including wind conditions that may have affected the jump.
Malpura Station House Officer (SHO) Pramod Sharma confirmed that JWO Manjunath’s body has been sent for a postmortem examination. The family has been notified, and further procedures are underway in collaboration with the IAF.
Despite the inherent risks associated with parachuting, incidents of this nature are uncommon due to the stringent safety protocols maintained by the IAF. Nevertheless, similar accidents have occurred in the past, underscoring the hazards faced by paratroopers during training. For instance, in May 2023, Seaman Ankush Sharma of the Indian Navy died after his parachute became entangled with a high-tension power line during a routine jump. Additionally, between 2018 and 2019, at least three paratroopers lost their lives during free-fall jump courses stemming from equipment failures or procedural errors.
The IAF has extended its heartfelt condolences to the grieving family of JWO Manjunath GS, acknowledging his unwavering dedication and service to the nation. This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the risks military personnel encounter even during training exercises as they prepare to safeguard the country under challenging operational conditions.
