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There are several types of emergency situations that can arise during a jump. These include in-flight emergencies, jump emergencies, and landing emergencies.

In-flight Emergencies

In-flight emergencies occur while you are still in the airplane preparing for a jump. Examples of in-flight situations are

• Emergency landing
• Emergency jump
• Parachute open inside the plane

Emergency landings and jumps are usually the result of an aircraft failure. If the aircraft is over 1000 ft (305 m), you will probably be instructed to make an emergency jump. The most dangerous of the in-flight emergencies is a parachute open inside the plane. This situation can potentially result in killing the jumper, destroying the frame of the airplane, and probably killing the rest of the people in the plane.

Jump Emergencies

Jump emergencies usually occur when the parachute fails to open during a jump. Jump emergencies can be classified as:

• Total malfunctions
• Partial malfunctions
• Incidents

Total malfunctions are situations in which nothing happens when you pull the ripcord (AFF or Tandem jump), or when the static line gets caught and prevents you from disconnecting from the aircraft. The result of both these situations is that no parachute opens and you continue in freefall. Rely on your jumpmaster to explain how to handle the situation for the type of jump you are going to make.

Partial malfunctions occur when the parachute deploys, but does not work properly. This creates a situation that does not allow you to land safely. Canopies that partially malfunction do not look "good" and tend to move violently. The following conditions may cause a partial malfunction: line over (a line goes over the canopy instead of straight down to the harness), entangled or broken lines, and holes, burns and/or rips in the canopy. The exact procedure to follow varies by drop zone, but generally you will cut away the main canopy and open the reserve parachute.

Other situations that can result in a jump emergency are twisted lines, sliders that have not gone all the way down (so the canopy cannot inflate properly), and two canopies open simultaneously. These situations may be considered emergencies depending on the circumstances.

Landing Emergencies

Landing emergencies occur because of hazards in or near the landing area. The best way to handle these situations is to anticipate them and take evasive action when you still have plenty of time and altitude. Response to landing emergencies frequently depends on the jumper’s common sense and jumping experience. Examples of hazards in the landing area include trees, roads, railroads, runways, power lines, and water.