Marine Dies in Parachute Accident in Arizona

A U.S. Marine died Monday in a parachute accident in Arizona, prompting the Marine Corps to immediately suspend certain types of jumps, the service announced.

The service member, who was not immediately identified, was killed in a parachute mishap at the Multi-Mission Parachute Course in Coolidge, according to a release from U.S. Marine Corps Training Command at Quantico.

The Marine, whose name was withheld so officials could notify the service member's family, was training at the U.S. Marine Corps School of Infantry West, the release states. He was expected to be identified later Tuesday.

The service immediately suspended all double-bag static line parachuting operations until further notice, the release states.

During that type of jump, a static line, or cord, is attached from one end of the aircraft to the other, according to information previously released by the service. When the Marine jumps out of the airplane, the line pulls the deployment bag out of the pack on his or her back, causing the parachute to inflate, according to the service.

The operation is designed to increase the number of missions Marines can conduct, according to the service.

A preliminary investigation into the fatal accident is underway, the release states. That review will be followed by a formal Safety Investigation Board, with support from subject matter experts, it states.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.