ORANGE, Massachusetts (Diya TV) — A 28-year-old Indian-origin software engineer died in a skydiving accident at Jumptown Skydiving in Orange, Massachusetts, on July 12, after a sudden gust of wind interfered with his parachute during landing, authorities said.
The victim was identified as Mani Chandra Teja Gaddam, a Boston resident who worked as a software developer at Fidelity Investments. According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, the accident occurred around 4 p.m. Sunday when Gaddam, who was flying alone, fell from a height of approximately 30 feet after an unexpected gust of wind disrupted his parachute during his final approach. Emergency responders took him to Athol Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Gaddam had earned his A-license for skydiving on June 26 from Skydive Spaceland Houston, according to his Facebook account, a credential that allows a skydiver to jump without direct instructor supervision under United States Parachute Association standards. Friends said he began training in December 2025. In his final Facebook post, Gaddam described the training period as “some of the best days of my life,” thanking his instructors and fellow skydivers and writing that earning the license was not the finish line but the beginning of a lifelong passion.
Originally from Vijayawada, Gaddam’s family later moved to Hyderabad, where he attended ICFAI University before completing a master’s degree at Northeastern University in Massachusetts two years ago, according to his LinkedIn profile. He had worked in software development and blockchain roles before joining Fidelity Investments in Boston in April 2025.
The accident is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the Orange Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Jumptown Skydiving said in a statement that “a sudden and unpredictable weather event appears to have caused the accident” and that the facility is fully cooperating with investigators. “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 company said, adding that it would not comment further while the review is ongoing. According to the Greenfield Recorder, the incident marks the second fatality at the facility within the past year, following the October 2025 death of Robert Szabo, 62, of Connecticut, who died three days after a midair collision with another skydiver at the same site.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to help Gaddam’s family cover funeral and related expenses.
