Watch This Paratrooper Deploy His Reserve 'Chute While Inside the Aircraft

It's bound to happen. Errors happen and it's no different for paratroopers when they jump from the aircraft.

On LiveLeak.com they posted video footage of an Army paratrooper who accidentally deployed his reserve parachute inside the aircraft.

How does this happen? Most rigs have a three-ring release that connects the main canopy to the container. One would only deploy the reserve when the main canopy had a malfunction.

To cut away the main, you reach down and pull the release handle attached to one of your shoulder straps. This handle releases the lines on both risers simultaneously. You are now in free fall again. Then, one of two things happens:

• On some rigs, there is a cord called the reserve static line that automatically pulls out the reserve when you cut away the main.
• On other rigs, you pull a second handle to deploy the reserve manually.

Had any close calls or malfunctions under canopy? Tell us about it in the comments below.