Skydiver Killed in Mid-Air Collision with Cessna 208 in Northern France

NORTHERN FRANCE — A fatal skydiving accident occurred on Sunday, 24 May 2026, at Frétoy-le-Château Airfield in the Oise department of northern France. The incident involved a Cessna 208 Caravan Blackhawk XP42 (Registration: F‑HFDZ), operated by local skydiving center Skydive Frétoy.

According to records from the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), the fatality occurred during the jump phase at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). The skydiver struck the aircraft's wing during the manoeuvring or jump run and was unable to regain control of the parachute, resulting in fatal injuries. The pilot reported no injuries, and the aircraft sustained no damage, landing safely back at Frétoy-le-Château.

The operator, Skydive Frétoy, is described as a local skydiving center based at Frétoy‑le‑Château, using the Cessna 208 configured for parachute operations. The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single‑engine turboprop widely used globally for parachuting, commuter, and cargo operations. The specific aircraft in this accident features a Blackhawk XP42 engine/propeller performance upgrade.

While the ASN database confirms the occurrence as a fatal accident, no dedicated preliminary investigation note from the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA) has been indexed publicly under the aircraft registration or date as of yet.

As of the current reporting period, no detailed technical findings or safety recommendations have been released by the investigation authority.