Indian Air Force’s Akash Ganga Skydiving Instructor Dies in Tragic Training Accident
A tragic accident during a demonstration jump claimed the life of Warrant Officer Ramkumar Tiwari (41), a para jump instructor from the Indian Air Force’s elite Akash Ganga skydiving team. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday when Tiwari’s parachute failed to open in time due to a technical malfunction, leading to a fatal fall.
Authorities confirmed that Tiwari was immediately rushed to a nearby military hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vinayak Bhosale stated, “We received information about the death from the Military Hospital around noon. The body has been sent for postmortem at Sadar police station.”
A Para Jump Instructor from the IAF’s Akash Ganga Skydiving Team succumbed to injuries sustained during a Demo Drop at Agra today. The IAF deeply mourns the loss, and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, standing firmly with them in this hour of grief.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 5, 2025
The Indian Air Force expressed deep sorrow over the loss in an official statement on X (formerly Twitter): “A Para Jump Instructor from the IAF’s Akash Ganga Skydiving Team succumbed to injuries sustained during a Demo Drop at Agra today. The IAF deeply mourns the loss and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, standing firmly with them in this hour of grief.”
Warrant Officer Tiwari was a seasoned professional, part of the renowned Akash Ganga team, which performs daring aerial displays and trains future skydivers. The incident has sent shockwaves through the defense community, raising concerns over safety protocols during high-risk training exercises. Investigations into the exact cause of the parachute malfunction are underway.
