In a tragic event that has sent shockwaves through the skydiving community, a well-respected instructor died after falling without a parachute during a jump in Nashville, Tennessee. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The instructor, Justin Fuller, 35, was conducting a tandem jump on Saturday when he became separated from his student and the tandem rig responsible for deploying the parachute. According to police reports, Fuller 'is presumed to have fallen from the sky without a parachute.'
Fuller was later found dead in a wooded area several hours after the jump. The Nashville Fire Department successfully rescued the student, who survived but had been trapped on a tree with the emergency parachute for hours.
Authorities confirmed that three other successful jumps had taken place prior to the fatal incident, and the aircraft involved landed safely after the jump. How Fuller became detached from the safety equipment is still unclear as he was an experienced skydiver.
Eyewitnesses noted that the student, who was reportedly on their first jump, expressed a desire never to skydive again following the harrowing experience.
Fuller was known for his dedication to teaching skydiving, often sharing his love for the sport on social media. In a June Instagram post, he described teaching skydiving as 'the most rewarding job at the drop zone,' and relished watching students learn to fly their bodies in the air. Tragically, just weeks before his death, he shared memories of a close call when a plane’s engine failed shortly after takeoff – a situation from which all onboard escaped unharmed.
The skydiving community is left in mourning for a passionate instructor and a beloved friend.
