Two licensed, experienced skydivers died Friday after colliding in midair and becoming entangled during a landing attempt at Skydive Elsinore in Riverside County, California, authorities said.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched late Friday morning after reports of an air emergency. Both women were flown to a hospital with critical injuries and were later pronounced dead, according to CBS News, citing the sheriff's department. The Riverside County coroner's office identified the victims as Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, and Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota.

Skydive Elsinore, which describes itself as the longest-running skydiving operation in North America, said the pair's freefall and parachute openings were normal. As they prepared to land, the two collided roughly 150 feet above the ground, an impact the company said "caused their parachutes to become entangled." The operator said there was no evidence of equipment malfunction, and officials have not announced an official cause.

Visiting for a Record Attempt

The women were visiting from out of town and were taking part with the California Women's Upright Record team, a group organizing an attempt at the world record for the most women simultaneously executing a standing-stance dive, according to NBC News. The record attempt's status following the fatal collision was not immediately detailed by organizers.

NO EVIDENCE OF EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

That was the operator's characterization of both women's gear, according to multiple outlets citing the company's statement — pointing investigators toward the collision itself, rather than gear failure, as the focus going forward.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will collect both parachutes for further examination, according to The Washington Post. Investigators have not released additional detail on how two licensed jumpers, both described as experienced, ended up on a collision course during what the company called a routine descent.

Lake Elsinore's Skylark Field has hosted skydiving operations for decades and has seen prior collisions and fatalities, though officials and the operator stressed that Friday's circumstances — two out-of-town jumpers colliding during a large coordinated group event — are still under review. No further updates on funeral arrangements or statements from the victims' families had been released as of Saturday evening.