A tragic skydiving accident in Ogle County, Illinois, resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man and injuries to another diver following a midair collision. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening near Rochelle, Illinois, when the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an “uncontrolled descent” involving two skydivers. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the severely injured man in a parking lot. He was transported to Rochelle Community Hospital by firefighters but was later pronounced dead.

The second skydiver involved in the collision was located at Koritz Field–Rochelle Municipal Airport and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The extent of these injuries remains unclear. Preliminary investigations suggest that the collision caused both divers’ parachutes to collapse. Although reserve parachutes were deployed, the collision led to the uncontrolled descent of one skydiver, resulting in the fatality.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the incident with assistance from federal authorities. This tragic event follows another recent aviation incident involving a small skydiving airplane crash at a New Jersey airport. Less than two weeks prior, a Cessna 208B carrying 15 people slid off the runway during takeoff at Cross Keys Airport in Monroe Township. Five individuals were injured in that incident, though no fatalities were reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively investigating both incidents to determine their causes and prevent future occurrences. These events highlight ongoing safety concerns within the skydiving and aviation communities, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures and protocols.