While I agree a part of it was "luck", I think you've already highlighted some of the "variables" about why they weren't "very lucky" (as GP proclaimed) — diff

While I agree a part of it was "luck", I think you've already highlighted some of the "variables" about why they weren't "very lucky" (as GP proclaimed) — difference of drag (in all dimensions), difference of speed and any active efforts by all sides. I like to turn question like this on its head: how would you make an airplane hit those skydivers on the way down? If the answer is: "very fricking hard", I think the "luck" plays a small role. Basically, if they were hit, they would have instead been "very unlucky". :)