Story perspectives

Skydivers Reach Crash Site First, Treat Injured Passenger

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 12:12 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Skydive Milwaukee skydivers John Bechtel and others jumped to the crash site and treated a victim.
A Beechcraft 35-A33 Debonair crashed in a cornfield near East Troy, Wisconsin, on September 27, 2026.
All four occupants survived, with three hospitalized and one evaluated at the scene.
The skydivers alerted emergency crews and arrived before road vehicles.
A former paramedic among the jumpers treated a passenger’s head injury until EMS arrived.

History

Historical Context

The 1970 Wichita State football charter crash, which killed 31 people, and the later Marshall University disaster that year highlighted danger of team air travel. In response, the FAA issued Advisory Circular AC 150/5200-33 in 2020 urging sky-diving clubs to coordinate with emergency services. On 27 September 2026, Skydive Milwaukee’s John Bechtel and teammates parachuted to a Beechcraft Debonair crash in Wisconsin, providing aid before EMS arrived.

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Story summary

Skydive Milwaukee skydivers John Bechtel and others jumped to the crash site and treated a victim.
A Beechcraft 35-A33 Debonair crashed in a cornfield near East Troy, Wisconsin, on September 27, 2026.
All four occupants survived, with three hospitalized and one evaluated at the scene.
The skydivers alerted emergency crews and arrived before road vehicles.
A former paramedic among the jumpers treated a passenger’s head injury until EMS arrived.

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