A 28-year-old software engineer from Boston died in an unusual skydiving accident in Orange, Massachusetts, over the weekend. Mani Chandra Teja Gaddam was reportedly dropped 30 feet by a sudden, strong gust of wind after airdropping at Jumptown Skydiving around 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Emergency services transported Gaddam to Athol Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family stated that he held an A License from the United States Parachute Association, which permits skydivers to jump without direct instructor supervision.
"Chandra was an exceptionally bright, kind, and hardworking young man with a passion for learning and embracing new challenges," his family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign established for funeral expenses.
Jumptown Skydiving released a statement acknowledging the incident, indicating that a "sudden and unpredictable weather event appears to have caused the accident." The skydiving center confirmed it is cooperating with authorities.
"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 center told WBZ-TV.
Gaddam had been employed at Fidelity Investments in Boston for just over a year. He studied computer science at Northwestern University, completing his master's degree in December 2024. His death is currently under investigation by local and state police, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.