Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on October 14, 2024
Navy Parachutist Misses Target and Injures Two During San Francisco Fleet Week Air ShowSource: Official U.S. Navy Page from United States of America, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Navy parachutist with the Leap Frogs team suffered a miscalculated landing during San Francisco's Fleet Week air show, inadvertently descending upon a mother and her teenage child. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon at Marina Green, as reported by KTVU. The Navy expressed its concern, stating, "Our thoughts are with the individual and their family. Safety is our number one priority. We cannot immediately assess what happened; however, we will review this incident to determine the cause."

The mishap took place shortly after 12:35 p.m., when the parachutist, part of a six-member Navy exhibition, missed the targeted area and unexpectedly struck the spectators. While the mother was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, and the child sustained minor injuries, the parachutist fortunately did not suffer any harm, as he was seen conspicuously walking away from the scene. According to Henry K. Lee's X post, the Navy has prioritized safety and promised to investigate the cause of the misjudgment thoroughly.

The sudden interruption of the airborne festivities took aback witnesses at the Marina Green. "Everybody was like, 'Whoa, what just happened?' It was unexpected," Monette Rockymore told ABC7 News. Her daughter captured the unsettling moment on video, which illustrated the woman being placed onto a stretcher. Despite the fright, Rockymore said she was relieved that the parachutist managed to land in the grass area, narrowly missing more severe obstacles.

Despite the accident, the overall sentiment regarding Fleet Week in San Francisco was excitement and revival. Numerous residents and visitors enjoyed seeing the city bustling with activity again, celebrating the return of the naval tradition with ship tours and the Blue Angels performance. "For a long time there just wasn't much going on. So, it's just really, really good for us to see our city coming back to life," Morgan Kramer and her husband Steven, who have relatives in the armed forces, expressed enthusiasm in an ABC7 News interview.