Paraglider
Caught on camera: Plane ploughs into paraglider—What happens next is unbelievable
A terrifying mid-air collision was captured on camera when a small aircraft struck a paraglider’s canopy, sending a woman spiralling out of control through the sky before she miraculously managed to land safely.
The paraglider, identified as 44-year-old Sabrina, was flying near the scenic Schmittenhöhe mountain in northern Austria on Saturday when the incident occurred. According to reports, her recreational glide took a dangerous turn when a small sightseeing plane suddenly flew directly through her equipment, just feet above her.
The impact tore through her canopy, leaving it severely damaged and causing her to spin violently midair. In a desperate attempt to regain control, she struggled to deploy her emergency parachute while shouting as she descended uncontrollably.
Footage of the incident shows the canopy partially shredded following the collision. Despite the severity of the impact, Sabrina was eventually able to deploy her reserve chute before reaching the ground.
🇦🇹 A paraglider collided midair with a Cessna 172 over Austria and somehow survived.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 24, 2026
She deployed her emergency parachute seconds after impact and landed safely.
The plane pilot also managed to land safely at Zell am See Airport.pic.twitter.com/6IH7sTi3Ic
In an extraordinary escape, she survived the fall and was later airlifted by a police helicopter to a local airport for medical evaluation. Reports, including those cited by the New York Post, confirm she suffered only bruises and minor contusions.
The sightseeing aircraft, piloted by a 28-year-old man, also landed safely at Zell am See Airport. Authorities quoted by the New York Post said the pilot claimed there was no opportunity to avoid the paraglider.
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