A skydiver who slammed into the jumbotron during Virginia Tech’s spring football game at Lane Stadium escaped with just a shoulder injury and calls himself lucky to be alive.
Unforeseen Winds Alter Course
Army veteran Pasha Palanker planned to land on the field before kickoff but encountered sudden wind gusts that threw him off target. Conditions appeared stable on approach until fierce winds intensified, directing him toward the spectators below.
Speaking out for the first time, Palanker described the chaos: “It happened so fast, it surprised all of us. When I was approaching, everything looked fine and the wind picked up as I was getting into the stadium, picked up way above what is expected and it looked like I was going to land on the crowd, which could have been pretty dangerous.”
In a desperate turn toward the field, another powerful wind shear drove him straight into the scoreboard. His parachute snagged, leaving him suspended roughly 20 minutes until emergency teams lowered him to safety.
Palanker reflected, “As I was turning to try and go into that field, another wind shear came in and just slammed me into that jumbotron. I was just really glad that the parachute was hanging on, whatever it was hung on. It was a long way down. It is not the first time that I walked away from something that I shouldn’t.”
Swift Rescue and University Response
Virginia Tech officials confirmed via social media: “We are grateful to report that the skydiver was safely secured and is currently stable. Our primary focus remains on their well-being. We extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders, event staff, and medical personnel for their swift, coordinated and professional response.”
Second Parachute Mishap This Year
This incident follows another pre-game parachuting accident at the Armed Forces Bowl in January. During the Rice-Texas State matchup, five jumpers targeted the field. Three landed successfully, one drifted outside the stadium, but the fifth collided with field goal net cables, tangling his parachute in a frightening display captured on video.
