Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Tragic Paragliding Accident in Turkey Claims Two Lives
A British tourist and a pilot suffered a fatal fall after a parachute malfunction during a paragliding excursion. The incident occurred in Fethiye, Turkey, where the unidentified British man and his pilot launched from the 6,500ft Babadag mountain on Wednesday morning, only to encounter a devastating equipment failure. This deadly event has prompted a thorough investigation into paragliding safety measures in Turkey.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Shortly after their 11:45 am departure, the parachute experienced a critical failure. This caused the 22- and 29-year-olds to plummet onto the rugged terrain of the mountainside, according to Turkish media outlets. First responders declared both men dead at the scene. The accident led to an immediate suspension of paragliding flights in the vicinity.
Investigation Underway
Local authorities have launched a formal investigation into the deadly accident. Experts will carefully examine the crash location and the paragliding gear involved. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to a local mortuary as the investigation proceeds.
Paragliding Safety Statistics
While past incidents have occurred at this popular paragliding spot, Turkish authorities suggest that the rate of fatalities is relatively low when considering the total number of flights. A 2023 study highlighted that out of 241,420 paragliding flights, 44 resulted in documented accidents.
- The vast majority of these accidents were classified as “of low severity.”
- Only three incidents were fatal.
Past Paragliding Fatalities
Frank Lally, a British citizen, previously died in a paragliding mishap at the same takeoff point. The 62-year-old crashed into the mountainside soon after starting his flight. Despite swift intervention by emergency services and transfer to Fethiye State Hospital, medical professionals were unable to save him.
Other Paragliding Accidents
In April 2023, Orkut Baysal, a Turkish resident, died after a jump along with Andaç Ünsal and Thomas Aitken, a 45 year old British paraglider. The jump resulted in a mid-air entanglement. Their unrecoverable entanglement led to a crash into a hotel rooftop and subsequently near a swimming pool, spurring local inhabitants to request assistance. Mr. Baysal was declared dead at the scene, while Mr. Aitken and Mr. Ünsal were transported to Fethiye State Hospital. Hospital representatives declared that the injured paragliders recovered from the accident.