A 64-year-old pilot was tried on Tuesday September 19, 2023 for manslaughter by the Montauban criminal court (Tarn-et-Garonne). He had accidentally decapitated a 40-year-old man, a wingsuit enthusiast, who had just jumped from the plane. A suspended prison sentence of twelve months was requested against him.
Neglect ? Recklessness? There was a lot of talk about security on Tuesday September 19, 2023, at the Montauban criminal court.
The latter judged a 64-year-old man, employed pilot at the Bouloc-en-Quercy skydiving school (Tarn-et-Garonne), for having collided, on July 27, 2018, with Nicolas Galy, a 40-year-old aeronautical engineer, wingsuit enthusiast who had just jumped out of the plane.
The wingsuit consists of jumping into the void in a flexible winged jump suit before opening your parachute.
Just after the drop, the pilot began his descent towards the airport tarmac. Ten seconds after the jump, a wing of the plane struck the victim, who was decapitated. It seems that no consultation took place between the pilot and the parachutist on the trajectory to follow. A fatal lack of communication, as the president of the court pointed out.
However, that day, the pilot should not have flown, his state of health prohibiting him from flying alone, temporarily, according to the investigation carried out by the Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BEA). On the stand Tuesday, the pilot explained that he thought his license was valid.
A suspended prison sentence of twelve months was requested against him.
The skydiving school that employed him is also being prosecuted in this case for safety violations. And is accused of not having checked the license of his employee. The public prosecutor requested a fine of 20,000 euros against her, including 10,000 suspended.
Since the tragedy, security measures have been strengthened.
The decision was reserved until November 21.
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