Skydiver Credits Scoreboard for Saving Lives at Virginia Tech

When Pasha Palanker jumped from a plane carrying a massive American flag over Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium, he expected a routine landing. Instead, 27-knot wind gusts—nearly double the safety limit—sent him crashing into the scoreboard, where he dangled 20 minutes waiting for rescue.

The veteran parachutist and Purple Heart recipient says that terrifying crash on Saturday actually saved lives. He was carrying an 1,100-square-foot flag anchored by a 26-pound weight that could have seriously injured fans in the stands below.

"As I was looking for a way out to land somewhere outside the stadium, a crosswind shear picked up that flag and sent me into that jumbotron," Palanker told Fox & Friends First on Tuesday. His arm now rests in a sling from shoulder injuries, but he knows it could have been far worse.

The jumbotron sits above a road with a fatal drop below. If Palanker hadn't caught the scoreboard, he would have fallen to his death or crashed into spectators at the spring football game.

Viral video captured the dramatic moment, showing Palanker suspended high above the stadium. Fire crews responded quickly, rescuing him from his precarious perch while fans watched from below.

The Bright Side

With over 1,100 jumps under his belt, Palanker had never experienced anything close to this incident. The jump would have been canceled if forecasters had predicted the dangerous winds that suddenly appeared over Blacksburg.

After hitting the scoreboard, Palanker had to make split-second decisions to survive. He released the flag to prevent wind from dragging him down, then kept his parachute from inflating again and pulling him off his lifesaving perch.

Despite hanging above a potentially deadly fall with an injured shoulder, Palanker stayed calm and waited for rescue. His military training and thousands of hours of jump experience helped him manage a situation he says "you can't train for."

Now recovering at home, the experienced skydiver has already made his next plan clear: once his shoulder heals, he'll be jumping again.