Two skydiving crashes within days kill 2 men, including dentist, IL officials say

Two men were killed in separate skydiving crashes within three days in Illinois, officials said.

The first death was reported the evening of July 7 when a 48-year-old man had an accident at Skydive Chicago, according to the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.

Officials did not provide information about what led to the accident in Ottawa, a city about an 85-mile drive southwest from Chicago.

The coroner identified the victim as Dr. Noel Liu, of East Peoria. According to his website, Liu was a “renowned dental entrepreneur” considered a leader in his field.

“He lived a life full of fulfillment and satisfaction, always pursuing his passions with enthusiasm and courage,” his wife, Dr. Nazish Jafri, said in a Facebook post. “Noel touched the lives of many with his warmth and enthusiasm, leaving behind cherished memories that will be treasured forever. He was an amazing father, husband, son, brother, and mentor to many.”

Two days later on July 9, a second skydiving crash was reported in Rochelle, less than 60 miles north from the first incident in the week.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office said two skydivers collided in air. It caused their canopies to collapse, and although their reserve parachutes were activated, one of the skydivers went uncontrolled to the ground.

The 40-year-old man, who has not been publicly identified, crashed in the parking lot of the skydiving facility, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other skydiver landed at a nearby airport and was hospitalized with minor injuries, authorities said.

In all of 2024, there were nine skydiving fatalities in the United States, according to the United States Parachute Association. It was the fewest since records began being tracked in 1961.