Hyderabad native dies in U.S. skydiving accident

A 28-year-old software engineer from Hyderabad died in a skydiving accident in the United States just days after earning his parachuting licence, with authorities investigating whether a sudden gust of wind caused the fatal fall.

The deceased, Mani Chandra Teja Gaddam, was working as a software engineer at Fidelity Investments in Boston since April 2025.

The accident was reported around 4 p.m. on Sunday at Jumptown Skydiving in Orange, Massachusetts. According to a statement issued by local authorities, Teja fell from a height of about 30 feet after a sudden and unexpected gust of wind interfered with his parachute during landing. He was rushed to Athol Hospital, where he was later declared dead.

The incident is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, 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 cause and manner of death.

Teja had reportedly obtained his A Licence from the United States Parachute Association, a certification that allows skydivers to jump without direct instructor supervision after completing the required training and safety standards.

According to his professional profile, Teja completed his Master of Science from Northeastern University, Boston, between September 2022 and August 2024. Before moving to the United States, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad, where he studied between 2015 and 2019. He had previously worked in roles, including software developer, backend support engineer and full-stack blockchain developer.

Investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident remains under way.

In a statement, Jumptown Skydiving said it was fully cooperating with the authorities conducting a thorough investigation. “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 statement from Jumptown Skydiving reads.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has also been launched to support Teja’s family with funeral and related expenses. The organisers appealed to well-wishers to contribute or share the campaign.