Skydive mishap follows FAA penalties for company

  

LODI, Calif. (KABC) -- A viral video shows a birthday skydive for an elderly woman going terribly wrong. Now ABC News has learned the skydiving company was previously fined for safety violations.

Laverne Everett wanted to treat herself to a skydive on her 80th birthday. Cameras were rolling when she fell out of her harness and was holding onto her instructor for dear life. Everett's shirt blew over her head so she couldn't see anything. She was terrified then but can laugh about it now. "I just held on," said Everett. "You do what you gotta do, you know." Everett managed to land safely. But ABC News has learned the FAA sent a safety inspector Friday to investigate the Northern California company known as the Parachute Center. In just the last two years, the company has racked up nearly $1 million in FAA penalties for apparently failing to properly maintain aircraft.

Get more California News »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•