Two skydivers killed in California over parachute malfunction

Two skydivers died in a tandem jump on Saturday in California after their parachute failed to deploy, authorities said.

The accident took place near Lodi, California, 138 km east of San Francisco. One of the skydivers killed in the tragedy was 18 years old and was jumping for the first time. Reports said his family were there watching when he hit the ground.

Bill Dause, owner of the Lodi Parachute Center, told reporters that the other victim was an instructor with an experience of 700 jumps.

Local police said their parachute did not open before they fatally hit the ground. Their bodies were found in a vineyard south of the center's landing area.

Dause said the parachute had failed to work properly but did not name possible causes for the deadly equipment malfunction.

"The only thing it looks like is something may have gone out of sequence," Dause told Sacramento television station KCRA.

He said wind and other conditions were "perfect" when the duo made their jump, adding that other skydivers continued their jumps at the center after the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation. Endi