22 November 2023 , 15:59
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A pilot has been banned from flying after his plane decapitated a daredevil in a wingsuit.
Nicolas Galy, 40, was one of a group of 10 jumpers taking part in the stunt in July 2018. Disaster struck just seconds into his jump over Bouloc-en-Quercy, France, when the plane, piloted by Alain C, descended around 10,000 ft and fatally struck the man with one of the wings, shearing his head off in the process.
The defendant was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday by Montauban criminal court, and given a suspended sentence. It also emerged in court that Alain C had flown the plane with an invalid licence. France's aviation authority had restricted his flying privileges due to a medical condition. Emmanuelle Franck, representing the victim's family, condemned the pilot, describing him as having "a lot of recklessness or negligence".
The Midi-Pyrénées Skydiving School Association, which Alain C worked for, was fined 20,000 euros. Half of that fine was suspended, according to French media. Speaking in court during the trial, the pilot insisted he had not done anything wrong in the tragedy and instead blamed the victim, claiming he behaved "recklessly". He told proceedings he could not see the wingsuits and believed they were clear of his aircraft as he manoeuvred. Galy was an experienced parachutist with 226 jumps.
According to the Times, Alain C said: "They don't descend much and can be in conflict with the aircraft. He was parallel to the plane and I thought he was further north. It wasn't my responsibility. I think my flight path made sense. This has been the tragedy of my life but I am not at fault."
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Prosecutors asked for him to receive a 12-month suspended prison term and a 10,000 euro (£8,500)fine. An earlier inquiry into the tragedy blamed it on several aspects, including the immediate steep ascent, a failure to brief those in wingsuits and inadequate procedures used by the French Parachute Federation.