Dutch paratroopers become entangled during jump in Diest: both men removed (Diest)

Two Dutch paratroopers become entangled and crash during a military exercise at Schaffen airfield. — © ROBtv

Two paratroopers have been taken to hospital after a failed jump in Diest. The soldiers from the Netherlands became entangled during an exercise and fell down. “The men tried to open their reserve parachute,” says Mayor Christophe De Graef (Open Diest). “One soldier only partially succeeded, after which he fell down at a high speed.”

Paratroopers from the Dutch army were conducting exercises on Thursday afternoon at the Training Center for Parachutists in Schaffen, a sub-municipality of Diest. “The men first did a test jump, where everything was perfectly fine,” says Mayor De Graef. “Then they started the exercises.”

That’s where things went terribly wrong. “Almost immediately after the jump, the two soldiers became entangled,” says the mayor. “Both men have opened their reserve parachutes. This was successful for one of them, but only partially for the other. He still fell down at a high speed.” The exercise was immediately stopped after the accident.

One of the paratroopers is virtually unharmed, the other also suffered only minor injuries. The soldiers were taken to UZ Gasthuisberg and AZ Diest. According to the public prosecutor’s office, there are no indications that there was any malicious intent. The Dutch Defense will take further control of the matter.