According to officials from the Metro Nashville Police Department, the instructor became separated midair from the tandem setup that connected him to his student. The student, who had been securely attached to the parachute, managed to land in a wooded area and survived the ordeal.
Emergency crews were later called to rescue the student, who was found hanging from a tree with an open parachute in the 4500 block of Ashland City Highway. Police confirmed the details in a public statement released shortly after the incident.
Authorities continued, explaining: “He will be ok. This skydiver became separated at the plane from a tandem rig with an instructor. The instructor is presumed to have fallen from the sky without a parachute. He has not been located.”
“Three other skydivers who jumped moments earlier landed safely. The plane landed safely at Tune Airport.”
“An MNPD helicopter crew has found the 35-year-old instructor, deceased, in the clearing of a wooded area off Ashland City Highway,” officers wrote in their follow-up post, adding that investigations were underway to determine exactly how the separation occurred.
“The FAA will be investigating this skydiving incident.”
In their statement, the department wrote: “NFD rescuer safely reached the parachute jumper, freed him from the harness & assisted him down the ladder using a pulley system.”
“Patient is awake, alert & in stable condition after being suspended for hours. Patient will be transported to the hospital as a precaution.”
“Your instructor wears two parachutes, a big, stable main parachute and a reserve parachute,” the website explains, describing how each instructor carries both a primary and a reserve parachute during tandem operations.
In an official statement shared with UNILAD, Go Skydive Nashville confirmed the heartbreaking news, saying: “Go Skydive Nashville reports that a skydiving incident occurred on Saturday, October 4, 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of one life.”
“Details of the incident are still being determined, and Go Skydive Nashville is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
“Go Skydive Nashville remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of training, safety, and professionalism. At this time, the team is focused on supporting those affected by this tragedy.”
