Sudden cessation of wind causes paraglider to crash land
In Austria, a day saw two German paragliders face unfortunate incidents: A 36-year-old guy took a 20-meter plunge as his paraglider lost wind support, while a 25-year-old woman experienced a botched landing.
Both accidents included German paragliders near Austria's Emberger Alm in Carinthia's Berg im Drautal area. Per authorities, the 36-year-old male from Kempten in Allgau faced gustless winds, leading to his paraglider's collapse and a fall of 20 meters. A fellow paraglider witnessed the accident and alerted the emergency service. The injured man ended up in a location inaccessible to search crews, who had to use a police helicopter to find and fly him to Klagenfurt's hospital, suffering from serious injuries.
The other incident happened when a woman landing in Greifenburg made a mistake, causing her to land in a high-grass field. She received injuries and was taken to Spittal's hospital.
Both paragliding and hang gliding involve different equipment: Paragliders have an elliptical, aerodynamic wing made from multiple layers, whereas hang gliders have a triangular device with a metal structure. Paragliders typically sit beneath their flight apparatus, while hang gliders maintain a horizontal position.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
Despite these misfortunes, Austria continues to draw international paragliding enthusiasts due to its diverse terrains and weather conditions. The International Paragliding Association (IPPA) often organizes events in the country, promoting safety measures and best practices.
Source:
