A paragliding pilot was struck by a plane while flying in the Zell am See region of Austria. The accident occurred this past weekend and was filmed and shared by the pilot herself, an athlete identified as Sabrina.
According to the video footage, the pilot was under her paraglider when the aircraft, apparently a Cessna 172, passed at very close range. The aircraft then struck part of the paraglider's structure, causing partial damage to the equipment and the beginning of the main canopy's collapse.
The main sail collapses after the impact
The footage shows a particularly dramatic moment. After the plane passed overhead, the paraglider's wing suddenly deformed, leaving the pilot in serious difficulty. Despite the violence of the scene, Sabrina managed to remain calm and react quickly.
Faced with the loss of control of her main canopy, she deployed her reserve parachute. This emergency maneuver allowed her to stabilize her fall and land without serious consequences.
The pilot escaped with minor injuries.
Sabrina was able to land safely. She reportedly suffered only minor scratches, despite the potential seriousness of the incident. The pilot of the aircraft was also able to land, and no major emergency has been reported at this stage. However, the accident could have had much more serious consequences, given the close proximity between the aircraft and the paraglider at the moment of impact.
