{"id":3637,"date":"2026-05-27T14:39:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/27\/one-skydiver-killed-and-one-injured-after-midair-collision-in-washington-state\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:39:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:39:48","slug":"one-skydiver-killed-and-one-injured-after-midair-collision-in-washington-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3637","title":{"rendered":"One skydiver killed and one injured after midair collision in Washington state"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"fe877744-55a5-485c-b243-1bfe7895f632\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"three men smile while wearing skydiving gear\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/a05e6012d3f37e2c6be5d9319825c4c208d22332\/25_0_1195_956\/master\/1195.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Randy Hubbs, at left.<\/span> Photograph: Facebook<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"fe877744-55a5-485c-b243-1bfe7895f632\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Randy Hubbs, at left.<\/span> Photograph: Facebook<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">One skydiver killed and one injured after midair collision in Washington state<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Randy Hubbs died and Nicole Klein was injured after the two collided during a group jump at West Plains Skydiving<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A skydiver was killed and another injured after the two collided midair during a group jump in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/washington-state\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Washington state<\/a>, authorities said this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Adams county sheriff\u2019s office said in a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid034XELdx1RFBjLgchP4yF2DD426254hgg8e4q8mYNtYxpQdqixJoTNTARnHEY2ATddl&amp;id=100068799866894\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> statement <\/a>on Monday that authorities were called Sunday evening regarding reports that \u201ctwo skydivers were needing medical attention\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cOn scene, deputies learned of a midair collision resulting in one of the skydivers becoming deceased and the second sustaining injuries requiring additional treatment at a medical facility,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02pBpCnGrHQYRBECZVQRGK9SYX3D2Hmqab7RnmZwCijrZjuPQMEwjFC2qN49BNUoHCl&amp;id=100068799866894\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">statement on Monday,<\/a> authorities said that they were investigating the fatal incident, which they said \u201coccurred at West Plains Skydiving\u201d during a \u201cscheduled group jump\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Investigators identified the skydivers as Randy Hubbs, of the Kennewick area, and Nicole Klein, of the Colville area, and said preliminary findings indicate \u201can in-flight collision occurred between the two skydivers during descent\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After the collision, authorities said Hubbs\u201creportedly became incapacitated and was no longer in control of his parachute canopy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Staff members observed and tracked Hubbs\u201cfrom approximately 500 feet above ground level as he drifted north and away from the designated drop zone\u201d, according to the sheriff\u2019s office. Witnesses told authorities that he \u201cappeared unresponsive, with his head and arms down, before disappearing beyond a hill northeast\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Officials said that weather conditions were not considered \u201ca contributing factor in the incident\u201d, and a total of 11 individuals participated in the jump operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">West Plains Skydiving said in a statement shared with local outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khq.com\/news\/skydiver-killed-in-mid-air-collision-in-ritzville-identified\/article_5a76f0cb-f712-41ac-80a4-66aa5dcf601f.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">KHQ-TV<\/a> that \u201cat approximately 1,000 feet above the ground, and with neither jumper aware of the other\u2019s position, the two parachutes came into contact\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe Skydive West Plains community is mourning the loss of a friend who has been part of the drop zone family for nearly a decade,\u201d the company said. \u201cThe team\u2019s thoughts are also with the second jumper and her family as she recovers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khq.com\/news\/skydiver-killed-in-mid-air-collision-in-ritzville-identified\/article_5a76f0cb-f712-41ac-80a4-66aa5dcf601f.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">added<\/a> that Hubbs had completed more than 800 previous jumps, and that Klein had completed 900.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/washington-state\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Washington state<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/west-coast\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">West Coast<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/sport\/extreme-sports\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Extreme sports<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=One%20skydiver%20killed%20and%20one%20injured%20after%20midair%20collision%20in%20Washington%20state&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/skydiver-killed-injured-collision-washington-state?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F27%2Fskydiver-killed-injured-collision-washington-state&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/skydiver-killed-injured-collision-washington-state\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Randy Hubbs, at left. Photograph: Facebook View image in fullscreen Randy Hubbs, at left. Photograph: Facebook One skydiver<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}