A 44-year-old paragliding enthusiast had a miraculous escape in the Austrian Alps when her glider was struck by a small plane. This incident occurred over the Piesendorf area in Salzburg, as she soared thousands of feet above the ground.
The Salzburg State Police reported that a 28-year-old pilot of a scenic flight collided with the woman’s glider. He explained to the authorities that he couldn’t avoid the collision.
The motor plane’s propeller caused substantial damage to the paraglider, forcing the experienced flyer to deploy her reserve parachute, according to police.
Despite the terrifying encounter, both the paraglider and the pilot emerged without serious injury. The woman was airlifted by a police helicopter following her emergency landing, demonstrating her experience and composure in such critical circumstances.
Authorities didn’t reveal her identity, but a video of the incident was posted on Instagram by someone named Sabrina. She didn’t respond to inquiries from NBC News.
The video depicts her gliding quietly along the Alpine ridgeline, accompanied by the buzz of an engine before the small aircraft abruptly appears. It slices through the canopy mere feet above her head, leading to a swift and disorienting spiral.
Remaining calm, she reached for the emergency parachute handle and successfully deployed it, slowing her descent. Though her face was not visible after deploying the chute, muffled exclamations could be heard.
Her damaged glider trailed along in two pieces attached to her harness as she managed to free her feet, narrowly missing a shrub and landing uneventfully on a grassy area.
She ended the video by removing her gear and catching her breath. She expressed disbelief in an Instagram caption, stating through an automated translation that she escaped with a few bruises.
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