FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
"I can't believe I'm still alive"
One of the most shocking air crashes in recent years was recorded in Austria, in the Austrian Alps, where a small Cessna plane collided in mid-air with a paraglider, turning a recreational flight into a nightmare that lasted only a few seconds.
The incident took place on Saturday, May 23, in the Zell am See area, near the Schmittenhöhe mountain, one of Austria's most popular paragliding destinations. The 44-year-old athlete, identified only as Sabrina, was flying over the mountainous area when a small single-engine plane suddenly appeared behind her and tore her parachute in mid-air.
Footage recorded by the camera she was carrying shows the moment of impact. The plane passed just a few meters from her body, as the plane's propeller and wing tore through the paraglider's fabric, leaving it spinning uncontrollably in the air.
Sabrina can be heard screaming as she tries to untie the ropes and activate the reserve parachute. For several seconds she fell in free fall, while the damaged device spun around her. According to international media, her experience and composure proved decisive, as she managed to open the reserve parachute moments before hitting the ground.
The reserve parachute opened at the last moment, slowing her descent. She landed on a forest road near Piesendorf with only minor bruises and injuries, something rescuers described as a "miracle."
???? WATCH: A paraglider gets hit by a Cessna 172 near the Austrian town of Zell am See.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) May 24, 2026
The paraglider was able to pull her rescue parachute and land safely shortly after the incident on Saturday.
According to police, the 44-year-old Austrian had started from Schmittenhöhe in… pic.twitter.com/HYQ7euRu57
A short time later, an Austrian police helicopter transported him to Zell am See airport for medical checks.
In a social media post a few hours after the incident, Sabrina wrote: "I still can't believe I'm here writing this message. Apart from some serious bruises, nothing happened to me." She added that this day will remain for her as a "second birthday."
The plane, which according to Austrian and international media was performing a panoramic flight over the Alps, also landed safely at the area's airport.
The 28-year-old pilot from Tyrol told authorities that he had no way of avoiding the collision after only noticing the paraglider at the last moment.
The incident has sparked a debate in the paragliding and paragliding community about the safety of airspace in the Alps. On forums and pilot communities on Reddit, some professionals point out that paragliders are very difficult to distinguish from aircraft, especially when approaching from behind or in front. Others argue that the area is often home to dozens of paragliders and that pilots of small aircraft should exercise extra caution.
Austrian authorities have launched an official investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident. According to reports, the case may be transferred to the Salzburg prosecutor's office, while criminal liability for "endangering physical safety" is being considered, an offense that can be punishable by imprisonment in Austria.
Lini një Përgjigje