The skydiver who tragically lost his life after a suspected mid-air collision with a fellow jumper has been identified as Pascal Pierre Petetin. The 57-year-old hailed from Punaauia, Tahiti, and was participating in a jump organized by Skydive Perris on May 28.
During the jump, Petetin and two companions took to the skies, but the day ended in tragedy. One of the other skydivers involved suffered serious injuries and their current condition remains undisclosed. Fortunately, the third member of the group escaped unharmed.
According to Skydive Perris, all three individuals landed with their parachutes deployed successfully. “On Thursday, May 28th, at around 2:30 p.m., a trio of seasoned skydivers visiting from overseas participated in a jump at Skydive Perris,” the company shared in a Facebook post. “Two of them were involved in a serious accident, but all three managed to land under good parachutes.”
Skydive Perris said all three divers “landed under good parachutes.”
“On Thursday, May 28th at approximately 2:30 p.m., a group of three friends, all very experienced skydivers from overseas, were jumping together while visiting Skydive Perris.
“Two were involved in a serious accident. All three landed under good parachutes,” they wrote on Facebook.
“A full investigation is being conducted,” the company wrote. “Skydive Perris offers its sincerest condolences to the individual’s family and politely asks for privacy as we mourn together as a community.”
Petetin was an avid skydiver, even showing off a picture of the Egyptian pyramids from above in a notable dive, according to his Facebook.
He worked at Tahiti-Faa’a International Airport according to his profile, the only international airport for French Polynesia.
Skydive Perris said on its website that it has been “serving the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Long Beach area for nearly 50 years.” The company said it facilitates “more than 100,000 skydives each year” and is “proud of our legacy of safety, professionalism, and service.”
Skydive Perris also describes its history with the film industry on its website, saying it has assisted with movies like Iron Man, Godzilla, Kingsman, and Point Break.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the skydiving accident.
The company saw another accident in 2024 when a skydiving instructor and her tandem student were caught in a “dust devil,” a rotating column of air that kicks up dust, and spiraled to the earth.
