A 28-year-old software engineer from Boston was killed over the weekend in what authorities described as an unusual skydiving accident in Massachusetts.
Mani Chandra Teja Gaddam died Sunday after a sudden gust of wind reportedly slammed him down about 30 feet following a jump at Jumptown Skydiving in Orange, Massachusetts, at around 4 p.m., according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
First responders transported Gaddam to Athol Hospital in a nearby community, where officials said he was pronounced dead.
At the time of the accident, Gaddam held an A License from the United States Parachute Association, his family said, a certification that permits skydivers to jump without direct supervision from an instructor.
His death has left his loved ones reeling, with the family saying they are “devastated.”
“Chandra was an exceptionally bright, kind, and hardworking young man with a passion for learning and embracing new challenges,” relatives wrote in a GoFundMe campaign created to help cover funeral costs.
Jumptown Skydiving said a “sudden and unpredictable weather event appears to have caused the accident” and noted that it is cooperating with authorities as they review the circumstances surrounding Gaddam’s death.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at our facility and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the skydiver involved,” the skydiving center said in a statement to WBZ-TV.
Gaddam had been employed at Fidelity Investments in Boston for a little over a year at the time he died, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The young software developer had studied in Hyderabad, India, before beginning graduate studies in the US.
He studied computer science at Northwestern University and received his master’s degree in December 2024, according to his profile.
His death is being investigated by local and state police, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
