LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — Two licensed skydivers died Friday after colliding in midair and crashing to the ground during an organized jumping event in Riverside County, authorities and company officials said.
First responders were called to the scene around 11:47 a.m. following reports of an airborne emergency, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and local fire officials. Deputies and paramedics arrived at the 20000 block of Cereal Street, slightly more than half a mile from Skydive Elsinore, where the two victims were discovered with traumatic, critical injuries.
Both skydivers were rushed to an area hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, sheriff’s Lt. Deirdre Vickers said.
Entangled Near the Ground
Facility operators stated that the jump began without incident. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the free-fall phase went smoothly and each participant deployed their canopy at the proper height, Skydive Elsinore said in an official release.
Trouble occurred moments before touchdown. At an altitude of roughly 150 feet, the jumpers struck one another in midair, according to the business. The impact left their canopies tangled together, sending both individuals into a rapid descent before they hit the ground.
Skydive Elsinore noted that preliminary findings revealed no signs of faulty gear or equipment failure. The facility expressed grief over the tragedy, extending its condolences to the family members and friends of both jumpers.
World-Record Attempt
The victims, who traveled from out of town to attend the gathering, had been participating in a specialty skydiving initiative, according to company spokesperson Josh Hall, as reported by NBC News. The event involved the California Women’s Upright Record squad, an effort focused on establishing a new global benchmark for the largest formation of women diving in a standing posture.
That event was scheduled to run through Sunday. Hall clarified that while Skydive Elsinore served as the host location for the flights, it was not the direct organizer of the record attempt. The skydiving facility, located about 75 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, identifies itself as the longest-operating skydiving business in North America.
The identities of the two skydivers were not publicly disclosed immediately, pending formal notification of their next of kin.
Safety Statistics and Next Steps
Fatal accidents remain relatively rare across the sport compared to historical peaks. According to the United States Parachute Association, 16 fatal skydiving incidents were recorded nationwide during 2025 out of approximately 3.47 million jumps, a figure the association noted remains low relative to higher casualty rates seen in the 1970s.
The exact cause of the collision remains under review. Skydive Elsinore stated that it is cooperating with local officials as the investigation into Friday’s fatal crash continues.
