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🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Austrian paraglider survives dramatic mid-air collision with small plane

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • An Austrian paraglider, Sabrina (44), survived a collision with a small aircraft while flying in the Alps near Zell am See.
  • She captured the harrowing incident on video, showing the aircraft's propeller tearing her parachute, leading to a freefall.
  • Sabrina managed to deploy her reserve parachute and land safely, sustaining only minor injuries; the pilot of the aircraft also landed without issue.

An Austrian paraglider has had an incredibly fortunate escape after her parachute was struck by a small aircraft while she was flying in the Alps.

Sabrina, 44, was paragliding near Zell am See on Saturday when a Cessna 172 sport plane flew into her canopy. The incident, which she filmed, shows the propeller of the aircraft tearing through her parachute, sending her into a freefall. Despite the terrifying situation, Sabrina, an experienced paraglider, instinctively deployed her reserve parachute, allowing her to make an emergency landing.

The day a Cessna 172 takes you out of the sky as a paraglider.

· SabrinaSabrina's description of the incident on Instagram, accompanying the video she filmed.

"I still can't quite believe I'm typing this, and that apart from a few nasty bruises and some contusions, I didn't suffer anything serious," Sabrina shared on Instagram, where she posted the dramatic footage. The video shows the paraglider soaring above the picturesque Austrian Alps before the sudden appearance and impact of the aircraft.

Both Sabrina and the pilot of the Cessna managed to land safely. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, according to Austrian broadcaster ORF. The 28-year-old pilot from Tyrol stated that he was unable to avoid the paraglider in time. However, under standard aviation rules, paragliders typically have priority over aircraft.

I still can't quite believe I'm typing this, and that apart from a few nasty bruises and some contusions, I didn't suffer anything serious.

· SabrinaSabrina's reflection on her survival after the mid-air collision.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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