Shawn Bowen Obituary, Death – The Gilbert man who tragically died in a skydiving accident in Eloy has been identified as 46-year-old Shawn Bowen. His death marks the second fatality within just eight days at Skydive Arizona, raising concerns within the community. Bowen was a prominent professional, working as a deputy chief information security officer for Microsoft, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The incident took place on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Skydive Arizona, located near Hanna and Tweedy roads in Eloy. According to initial reports from the Eloy Police Department, Bowen was using a winged apparatus for the jump. During his freefall, for reasons still unclear, his parachute failed to deploy.
Captain Ryan Jerome from the Eloy Police Department confirmed that they are working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the cause of the accident. “Our investigators will turn over the parachute and any equipment they will be needing for inspection,” Jerome said, underlining the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Skydive Arizona provided further details about Bowen’s jump, confirming it was his first of the day. He was flying solo, using his own personal equipment, which was reportedly well-maintained. Skydive Arizona also mentioned that Bowen landed approximately one mile away from the designated landing zone. First responders arrived at the scene but sadly pronounced him dead. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and Skydive Arizona has expressed its condolences to Bowen’s family and friends. The facility has pledged full cooperation with the authorities and emphasized its commitment to skydiving safety standards, especially given that it is one of the world’s most active skydiving operations, accommodating over 120,000 jumps annually.
Local residents, including Rachel Woodall, were shocked by the news, particularly because Eloy is home to SkyDive Arizona, where skydivers are a common sight. “It’s honestly just really surprising,” Woodall said, reflecting the sense of disbelief in the community. Another local resident suggested that perhaps more reliance on the equipment provided by the Eloy Airport might reduce risks in the future, highlighting concerns over the safety of personal equipment.
Bowen’s death is part of a tragic pattern. Just eight days earlier, on January 24, 2025, another skydiver, Ann Wick, a woman in her 50s from Minnesota, died after her parachute reportedly tangled, according to her brother. The incident occurred at the same location, raising alarms in the community about the safety practices at Skydive Arizona. Local residents are still grappling with the shock of back-to-back fatalities in such a short period. “It’s sad to hear,” one anonymous Eloy resident commented, expressing the general sentiment of unease that has taken hold following the two incidents.
The FAA, which is investigating both deaths, has not yet released any official statements regarding the circumstances of the accidents. Their ongoing investigations have left the public with many questions.
For now, the skydiving community remains deeply affected by these tragic events. Skydive Arizona has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for its operation, but residents and skydiving enthusiasts alike are left wondering what could have been done to prevent these deaths.
