Skydiver Killed in Paragliding Crash Died Due to Human Error After He ‘Fell into a Spiral’ and Couldn’t ‘Get Out’: Prosecutor

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner, who died in a paragliding incident in Italy in mid-July, was killed as a result of human error, officials said this week. The fatal incident occurred July 17 as Baumgartner flew above Porto Sant'Elpidio, but then "lost control" of his paraglider, U.K. newspaper The Independent reported at the time, noting the 56-year-old plummeted to the ground close to a swimming pool at a resort. An investigating prosecutor told the Associated Press on Tuesday, Oct. 7, that there appear to have been no problems with the paraglider itself. The AP credited German news outlet dpa for first publishing the prosecutor's findings. “He fell into a spiral, and he could not get out. He was unable to do the maneuver that he should have done to exit,” Raffaele Iannella told the AP, which also reported that Iannella will soon move to close the case. According to the AP and The Independent, Baumgartner gained fame in 2012 when he became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier after diving from a balloon about 24 miles above Earth with help from a pressurized suit. Porto Sant'Elpidio Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella expressed his sadness in a social media statement shortly after Baumgartner's death. "Our community is deeply impacted by the tragic passing of Felix Baumgartner, a worldwide figure, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flying," he wrote in an English translation, offering condolences to Baumgartner's family and loved ones. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Ciarpella initially indicated that Baumgartner had experienced a health issue in the air. “Porto Sant'Elpidio stands with his family and loved ones in this moment of grief," he said at the time. "On behalf of the Municipal Administration and all citizens, I express my sincerest condolences for this irreparable loss.”