MORUYA, NEW SOUTH WALES – A routine skydiving jump turned into a high-stakes emergency on Saturday afternoon, May 9, 2026 when two skydivers collided in the mid-air over regional New South Wales. The incident occurred near Moruya Airport, a popular hub for aerial sports on the state's South Coast.

Emergency services were called to the scene following reports that two individuals had made contact during their descent from approximately 14,000 feet.

Following the mid-air collision, both skydivers successfully deployed their parachutes, although the impact caused them to drift away from the primary drop zone. They were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being transported to a regional hospital with significant injuries sustained during the collision and landing. While their specific medical conditions remain private, authorities confirmed the severity of the incident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) are expected to review the incident to determine how the two jumpers occupied the same airspace during their freefall.

Investigators are currently examining several factors to determine the cause of the mid-air collision. Key areas of the probe include an evaluation of the communication protocols utilized by the jumpers during the sequence and an analysis of weather conditions, specifically looking for sudden wind gusts that might have redirected their descent. Additionally, the investigation is scrutinizing equipment integrity to identify any potential gear malfunctions that could have hindered the skydivers' maneuverability.

Regional skydiving centers in NSW, such as those in Moruya and Goulburn, have seen a series of unrelated aerial incidents over the past year, leading to increased calls for safety reviews within the industry.

A spokesperson for the local skydiving club stated that while the sport carries inherent risks, a mid-air collision of this nature is an "extremely rare and harrowing event". Support is currently being offered to the other six skydivers who were part of the same flight and landed safely without injury.