A 44-year-old paraglider in Austria has survived a terrifying mid-air collision with a light aircraft over the Alps, sustaining only minor injuries. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, was captured on video and shared on Instagram by the paraglider, identified as Sabrina.
The Collision
The video footage shows the moment the propeller of a Cessna 172 sliced through Sabrina's paragliding chute, sending her spiraling uncontrollably toward the ground. Audible screams can be heard as she struggles to regain control. Fortunately, she managed to deploy her backup parachute, enabling a safe emergency landing on a forest road.
Aftermath
In her Instagram post, captioned "Happy Birthday to me," Sabrina expressed disbelief at her survival. "I still actually can’t believe that I am sitting here typing this and that apart from a few nasty bruises and scrapes all over, nothing really happened," she wrote.
The paraglider had launched from Schmittenhöhe mountain and was heading toward the Piesendorf area of Salzburg. The pilot of the aircraft, a 28-year-old man from Tyrol, was on a sightseeing flight at the time. He managed to land safely at the same airport after the collision.
Investigation
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. According to Salzburg police, the pilot stated he was unable to swerve in time to avoid the collision. The paraglider was later flown to Zell am See Airport by police for medical attention.
Ingrid Planitzer, a spokeswoman for Salzburg state police, remarked that such accidents are extremely rare. "I’ve never seen an accident like this," she told the Times, noting that paragliding accidents typically do not involve a second party.
Paragliding Safety
Paragliding is an extreme sport popular in mountainous regions, where enthusiasts glide hundreds of metres above ground at speeds of about 30 miles per hour. Fatal accidents are relatively uncommon, but this incident highlights the potential dangers of sharing airspace with other aircraft.
