Mid-Air Collision: Aussie Paratrooper Killed in Training

Darwin, 12 May : A highly skilled Australian Army paratrooper was killed during a training exercise at Jervis Bay Airfield on the New South Wales South Coast after colliding mid-air with another soldier, military officials said on Tuesday.

Warrant Officer Class Two , 50, from the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), died after falling to the ground during a specialist parachute training activity at around 5:40 p.m.

Australian Army Special Operations Commander said both paratroopers had successfully opened their parachutes before colliding several hundred feet above the ground while manoeuvring toward the drop zone.

“After the collision, both soldiers fell from height,” Gould told reporters.

The second paratrooper, a sergeant from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Parachute School, survived the incident with minor injuries and was the first to administer first aid to Muddle.

“Both paratroopers were highly skilled. Between the two of them, they had several thousand jumps to their credit,” Gould said.

Muddle joined the Australian Army in 1994 and spent most of his career with the Special Air Service Regiment under Special Operations Command. He completed five overseas deployments, including missions in Afghanistan.

Gould described Muddle as a highly qualified special forces sniper and military free-fall parachutist who was widely respected within the defence community.

“He was highly regarded within our community, a skilled professional, and he’ll be remembered for his sense of humour and his genuine and deep commitment to serving the nation,” he said.

Australian Prime Minister expressed condolences to Muddle’s family and the broader defence community.

“This tragic accident is a stark reminder that there are no easy days for those who defend our nation,” Albanese said in a statement.

Following the incident, all military parachuting operations were suspended pending investigations.

According to Gould, the exercise was being conducted under low-light conditions, with personnel using night vision goggles. He said multiple investigations were underway and authorities would assess whether it was safe to resume training operations.

The death marks the second fatal parachuting incident involving the Australian Defence Force in two years. In 2024, Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon died after being injured in a parachuting accident at Richmond RAAF Base near Sydney.