Fort Bragg authorities are investigating the tragic death of an Army paratrooper who died during a helicopter jump training just minutes after sharing a smiling selfie on social media.
The fall of 21-year-old Abigail Jenks from the Blackhawk aircraft Monday was her last as the Gansevoort native accomplished a “static line jump.”
“It was a normal line jumping operation,” Lt. Col. Mike Burns said. “They were jumping from a helicopter instead of an airplane. She then executed the jump and that’s when the fatality happened.”
The official added that usual procedures and pre-training rehearsal exercises had all been followed. An investigation is underway to determine why the paratrooper’s parachute did not automatically open.
“New York is devastated by the loss of Spc. Abigail Jenks and joins her fellow soldiers, her family, and her friends in honoring her service to our country,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted issuing a half-staff flags’ order for Thursday in honor of the late skydiver.
