Honduran special forces display goes horribly wrong as four parachutists crash land

A Honduran Special Forces parachute display went spectacularly wrong when the paratroopers, attempting to land on a soccer field in a stadium, were blown off course, with one of the paratroopers slamming into a portable toilet.

Chaos unfolded during Honduras’ 201st Independence Day celebrations on Sept. 15 when 40 paratroopers jumped from helicopters from 6,500 feet to land in front of screaming, awe-inspiring fans at the José-de-la-Paz-Herrera Stadium in the city of Tegucigalpa.

Or that was the plan. But high winds drastically blew the experienced skydivers off their intended course in a way that thankfully didn’t end in tragedy.

Video of the incident shows the triumphant descent quickly goes awry as four paratroopers appeared to lose control at the same time, leading to a series of painful but comical landings, one after the other.

One of the divers landed full in the middle of the drummers in a marching band marching along the running track that surrounds the field, while another got his parachute into the roof of the grandstand and fell to the ground among the crowd.

40 troopers jumped from 2,500-foot helicopters to land in front of screaming, awe-inspiring fans at the José-de-la-Paz-Herrera Stadium in the city of Tegucigalpa

The paratrooper who fell into the crowd came ashore just in front of the stage occupied by Honduras’ celebrities and VIPs.

Another fell just behind the large stage where President Xiomara Castro, her family and the government cabinet were located.

An unlucky trooper dived at high speeds, over the soft grass and slammed directly into a row or portable toilet.

There were also reports that a soldier made an emergency landing outside the stadium and was taken to hospital with a broken foot.

The team of daredevils had practiced the jump weeks in advance ahead of the annual festivities marking the Central American nation’s independence from Spain.

The majority of the team managed to land in the intended spot – albeit a little rough at times, with a few saluting the waiting cameras directly.

One of the jumpers, named only as Zavala Avilez, said he was a member of the Special Forces and was delighted with the experience of being part of the highly anticipated group.

“I’m really happy to be able to bring so much joy to this beautiful country,” the Honduran said before the cheering crowd, who had made the jump for the eighth time.

Chaos unfolded during Honduras’ 201st centenary celebrations on Sept. 15, when 40 troopers jumped from helicopters from 6,500 feet to land in front of screaming, awe-inspiring fans at the José-de-la-Paz-Herrera Stadium in the United States. town of Tegucigalpa

Similarly, Edwin Cerrano, originally from Lempira, said that being in the air is his “something spectacular” and said he practiced his jump for 15 days.

The intensity went up a few times when a paratrooper with the Honduran flag landed almost perfectly, tripped and fell to his knees, but quickly rose and raised his arms triumphantly.

Honduras Independence Day, celebrated on September 15 every year, has long been a day of fun and celebration for the people of a small Central American country.

The country overthrew Spanish colonial rule on that date in 1821 and has been celebrating the day ever since.

Typical festivities include parades with colorful floats and brass bands from local schools. School children perform dances and plays that showcase Honduras history and culture.

Later in the evening, the official ceremonies end with people gathering to sing the Honduran national anthem while the flag is lowered. In many communities, however, the street parties can go on well into the night.