2 Indonesian air force skydivers plunge to their deaths

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Two Indonesian military skydivers plunged to their deaths Thursday during an airshow rehearsal in the country’s capital.

Indonesian air force spokesman Air Marshal Dwi Badarmanto said one of the victims fell from about 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) over a residential area close to an air force base after his parachute failed to open.

The second skydiver lost control when strong winds disrupted his descent.

Badarmanto said the deaths would be investigated. Both men were members of the air force’s elite troops. They were identified as first private Supranoto and second corporal Beni.

The two were rehearsing jumps with hundreds of other skydivers for a celebration of the air force’s 70th anniversary on Saturday.

In December, a jet fighter crashed during an air show in Yogyakarta in central Java, killing two pilots. No one on the ground was injured.