Australian Transport Safety Bureau

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is the national independent investigator of transport accidents and other safety occurrences in aviation, marine and rail operations. Recently, the ATSB has been in the news due to its investigation and subsequent release of a report and video footage concerning a skydiving incident in Far North Queensland on September 20, 2025. The incident involved a skydiver whose reserve parachute accidentally deployed and became entangled with the tail of the aircraft. The ATSB's report detailed how the skydiver's reserve handle snagged on the aircraft's flap, leading to the parachute's deployment. The skydiver was left dangling from the plane before successfully cutting themself free. The ATSB's release of the video and report highlights its role in promoting transport safety by documenting and analyzing incidents to prevent future occurrences.