Lawsuit filed after paratrooper crashes into family watching SF Fleet Week Air Show

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The U.S. Navy touts its parachute stunt team, the Leap Frogs, as warriors who are “trained to think fast in situations where there’s zero room for error.”

The Navy writes, “That’s what makes them a perfect parachute team. During their Leap Frog tour, team members will travel across the country performing daring stunts from over two miles above the ground.”

One Leap Frogs team member allegedly made a big error when he landed on top of two San Francisco Fleet Week spectators at Marina Green during the 2024 Air Show, according to a new lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court.

“Plaintiffs Jhoanna DeGuzman and Millicent DeGuzman were struck by an inexperienced US Navy Leap Frog Parachute Team paratrooper … who landed on them, causing significant body injuries to both Plaintiffs,” the civil lawsuit filed on Friday states.

Millicent “Mia” DeGuzman, 17, was recording video when the Leap Frogs member missed the landing zone and crashed into her and her mother, attorneys said.

In the video, the parachutist can be seen waiving his arms, apparently trying to signal to spectators on Marina Green that something is wrong. There are several children watching below.

Nearby spectators also captured the accident on video and the footage was shared on social media. In one video, a spectator is heard saying, “No, no, no, he’s going to crash, (expletive) he just crashed.”

The teenager underwent surgery to repair a broken pelvis and her mother suffered a concussion, law firm Gomerman / Bourn said.

The city’s Marina Green is used as the main designated viewing area for the annual air show’s spectators. According to the lawsuit, the city and organizers with the San Francisco Fleet Week Association “negligently permitted members of the public to sit in proximity to the Leap Frogs’ landing zone, creating a false zone of safety.”

A statement from Millicent DeGuzman was released by the law firm, writing, “This was my first airshow and I had no idea I was in danger. I immigrated to the United States just two days before the show and was so excited to explore the city with my family. Now I can’t move without their help and doctors say I may never be able to do the things I once could. What was supposed to be a joyful start to a new life here has turned into a nightmare I relive every day.”

The lawsuit claims that the city and SFFWA negligently operated and supervised the parachute demonstration, failed to ensure the US Navy had properly trained paratroopers for doing jumps, and failed to establish adequate landing zones.

When the paratrooper landed on Jhoanna and Millicent DeGuzman, the victims suffered “serious and permanent injuries” that require ongoing medical treatment, the suit claims.

The Navy’s website says Leap Frogs are highly trained service members. “Every member of the team has joined this performance group after years of real-world special operations work. Comprised of active-duty Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combat Crewmen, Divers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians and Aircrew Survival Equipmentmen, the Leap Frogs demonstrate best-in-class training offered by Navy Special Warfare,” the Navy wrote.

The U.S. military was absent from last week’s 2025 Fleet Week Air Show because of an ongoing government shutdown. Instead of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels soaring over the city, Canadian Snowbirds performed aerial stunts and served as the main attraction.

Leap Frogs serve for three years on the team before returning to their Navy operational units.