Australian paratrooper killed in mid-air collision during training exercise

An experienced paratrooper of the Australian army died in a mid-air collision during a training exercise on the New South Wales coast, authorities said.

The incident took place at the Jervis Bay airfield at around 5.40pm on Monday when Warrant Officer Lachlan Muddle fell to the ground after a collision with another paratrooper, sustaining fatal injuries.

Muddle, 50, was assisting a parachute training activity when the accident took place, Army Special Operations Commander Major General Garth Gould said.

The collision happened a few hundred feet above ground, in low-light conditions as the paratroopers were training using night-vision goggles.

“What we know about the incident is that both paratroopers collided several hundred feet above the ground whilst they were manoeuvring towards the drop zone," he said.

"After the collision, both soldiers fell from height."

The second soldier survived the fall with minor injuries and did not require hospitalisation, the Guardian reported.

"Both paratroopers were highly skilled, between the two of them they had several thousand jumps to their credit," Major General Gould said.

Muddle joined the army in 1995, serving the majority of his time in the Special Operations Command’s Special Air Service Regiment. He took five deployments, including to Afghanistan, the ABC reported.

"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," Major General Gould said.

His death had been “very deeply and immediately felt”, the officer said, adding that Special Operations Command and the army were supporting the family.

"And for the moment, we are asking that everyone is just respectful of the next of kin's privacy while we continue to support them."

Prime minister Anthony Albanese and defence minister Richard Marles also condoled the death of the paratrooper.

"This tragic accident is a stark reminder that there are no easy days for those who defend our nation,” said Mr Albanese, adding that his heart went out to Muddle's family, friends and the broader defence community.

"May Warrant Officer Class Two Muddle live on in every heart he touched."

Acknowledging the risks involved in training armed forces members, Mr Marles said: “The defence force trains as it fights, and so there is necessarily risk in defence force training. And what that means is that Lachlan Muddle's sacrifice is as meaningful and significant as any of those on the battlefield."

Returned and Services Leagues of Australia issued a statement saying the incident was a “sobering reminder” that service to the nation wasn’t just during the conflict but also during the “"demanding preparation that underpins operational readiness".

"Every Australian who puts on a uniform accepts a level of sacrifice that most of us will never be asked to make," RSL national president Peter Tinley said.

The military has halted personnel parachuting operations pending an investigation into the paratrooper’s death.

The training will resume after “initial” reports confirm whether it is safe to proceed with it, according to Major General Gould.

"And then I think there'll be longer lines of inquiry that will unfold over several months and potentially years, as we've seen with the previous parachuting incident.”

Muddle’s is the second parachute-related death in the past two years, with Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon dying in 2024 after suffering injuries during a parachuting incident in Sydney.

Despite the deaths, Major General Gould said he was confident about the safety procedures in place for parachute training.

“They are up to scratch and fit for purpose, I've got a high degree of confidence in our training system,” he said.

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