Overview
- A Cessna 172 on a scenic flight struck a paraglider’s canopy near Schmittenhöhe, shredding the wing and sending the 44-year-old pilot into an uncontrolled spin before she deployed her reserve parachute.
- The paraglider, who recorded the incident, survived with only bruises and contusions after an emergency landing and airlift to Zell am See for assessment.
- The 28-year-old aircraft pilot landed safely at Zell am See Airport and told investigators he could not have avoided the paraglider.
- Salzburg police reported the May 23 collision to Austro Control, opened an investigation and filed a charge of causing bodily injury through negligence against the plane pilot.
- The viral helmet-camera footage has focused public attention on how tourist flights and free-flight activities share alpine airspace and on whether rules or procedures for deconflicting that traffic will change.