Marana, AZ – The SEAL killed in Thursday afternoon’s parachute training accident in Arizona has been identified as Special Warfare Operator Chief Brett D. Shadle, 31, of Elizabethville, Pa, according to the Navy.
NewsChannel 3 has confirmed Shadle was a member of Virginia Beach-based SEAL Team 6. Shadle enlisted in the Navy in July 2000 and was awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor during his service.
The SEAL injured in the accident is a Petty Officer 1st class.
According to the United States Special Operations command, the accident occurred on Thursday around 12:30 p.m. while the two were participating in routine military free fall training at the USSOCOM Parachute Testing and Training Facility at Pinal Airpark, Arizona.
The SEALs were practicing free-fall training when the accident happened, according to Naval Special Warfare Public Affairs office.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies say the two collided in mid-air during the jump.
Both service members were evacuated to the University of Arizona Medical Center.
The SEAL that survived is in stable condition right now.
The exact cause of the accident will be determined by an accident investigation.
Two other SEALs were killed in separate parachute training accidents at the same facility in 2008. Tommy Valentine was killed in February of that year, and Lance Vaccaro died in March.
