Skydiver Slammed Into Virginia Tech's Scoreboard During Spring Game and Got Stuck for 20 Minutes

A skydiver crashed hard into the Lane Stadium scoreboard right before Virginia Tech kicked off its first spring football game under new coach James Franklin on Saturday. The incident was wild enough to delay the entire game start by over an hour while first responders worked to get this person down safely.

The Landing Nobody Planned For

Video footage captured the moment the skydiver's parachute got tangled between the "C" and the "H" on the Virginia Tech lettering on top of the scoreboard. While hanging there stuck for roughly 20 minutes, the skydiver dropped a huge American flag and a smaller parachute into the stands below. Virginia Tech officials didn't release the skydiver's name, but confirmed the person was conscious and stable after the rescue.

First Responders Came Through in a Clutch Situation

Virginia Tech officials praised the quick response from first responders, event staff, and medical personnel. "Our primary focus remains on their well-being," the university said on X. "We extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders, event staff, and medical personnel for their swift, coordinated and professional response." The Blacksburg Fire Department didn't immediately respond to requests for additional details, but Virginia Tech later confirmed the "quick actions" of first responders had "safely returned today's parachuter to the ground without injury."

It's not every day a spring game gets derailed by something like this. Everyone showed up ready to see Franklin's new squad in action, but instead they got a story they'll be talking about for years. At least the person is okay, and that's what matters most.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.