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Incident Survival Metrics
Quick overview of the survival factors during the mid-air collision.
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Paraglider survives mid-air collision with plane over Austria
Paraglider survives mid-air collision with plane over AustriaNewsFeedDramatic bodycam video captured the moment a sightseeing plane tore through the parachute of an Austrian paraglider. The 44-year-old woman spun through the air before deploying her reserve chute and making an emergency landing.Published On 25 May 2026
Viral video shows paraglider hit by sightseeing plane in Austria
3 min readNew DelhiMay 25, 2026 12:15 PM IST The video shows Sabrina spiralling downward, screaming as she struggles to regain control (Photo: @aviationbrk/X)A regular adventure turned into a nightmare for a paraglider after she was hit by a small aircraft over the Austrian Alps, sending her into a dangerous spin. The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon near Schmittenhöhe mountain, a well-known paragliding destination in northern Austria. According to the New York Post, Sabrina, a 44-year-old seasoned paraglider, was airborne with a mounted camera when a sightseeing plane suddenly flew through her canopy. The viral video shows the plane narrowly missing her head. Despite the spin, she successfully activated her emergency parachute and landed safely.The video also shows Sabrina spiralling downward, screaming as she struggles to regain control. With her primary canopy badly damaged, she quickly deployed her reserve parachute while descending. Watch here: 🚨 WATCH: A paraglider gets hit by a Cessna 172 near the Austrian town of Zell am See. 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 — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) May 24, 2026 The video has since gone viral, drawing a wave of reactions. “This paragliding pilot was definitely trained by the falcon Seppi! Cool reaction! Well done!” a user wrote. “How does a paraglider collide with a plane doing 200KPH? More likely the pilot was asleep at the wheel, Maria never considers these possibilties,” another user commented. “Insane close call! Incredible skill and luck that both walked away safely. That reserve chute deployment was textbook perfect. Nature and machines don’t mix well!” a third user reacted. Emergency responders later arrived by helicopter and flew her to a nearby airport for medical evaluation. “The propeller of the motor plane severely damaged the paraglider, prompting the experienced paraglider to deploy her reserve parachute,” the police said, as quoted by NBC News. Authorities confirmed that neither Sabrina nor the pilot suffered serious injuries. After landing at Zell am See Airport, the 28-year-old pilot reportedly told officials he had been unable to prevent the crash. In a post shared later, Sabrina said she escaped with only bruises and contusions. “I actually still can’t believe that I’m sitting here ...
WATCH: Paraglider collides with aircraft mid-air, saves herself ... - WION
Story highlightsDuring a mid-air collision over the Austrian Alps, a paraglider survived after a small plane shredded her canopy, allowing her to deploy her emergency parachute and land with minor bruises.A terrifying mid-air collision over the Austrian Alps was caught on camera after a paraglider was struck by a small sightseeing plane, sending the flyer spiralling uncontrollably toward the ground before she narrowly avoided disaster by deploying her emergency parachute. The incident occurred on Saturday (May 23) near Schmittenhöhe mountain in northern Austria, a popular destination for paragliders.According to the Salzburg State Police, the paraglider, identified as 44-year-old Sabrina, was flying with a mounted camera when a small aircraft suddenly tore through her canopy, narrowly missing her, the New York Post reported. Dramatic footage captured the moment of impact, showing the paraglider’s wing being ripped apart instantly. Sabrina could then be heard screaming as she rapidly spun downward after losing control mid-air.Add WION as a Preferred SourceWith her main canopy severely damaged, she managed to activate her reserve parachute during the fall, allowing her to land safely despite the near-fatal collision. “The propeller of the motor plane severely damaged the paraglider, prompting the experienced paraglider to deploy her reserve parachute,” police said, according to NBC News.Emergency responders later airlifted Sabrina by helicopter to a local airport for medical examinations. Authorities said both the paraglider and the 28-year-old pilot escaped without serious injuries. The pilot reportedly told investigators he had been unable to avoid the collision before safely landing at Zell am See Airport. Sharing an update on Instagram in German after the incident, Sabrina said she survived with only bruises and contusions. “I actually still can’t believe that I’m sitting here typing this and apart from a few nasty bruises and bruises all around nothing really happened,” she wrote.
Plane Hits Paraglider Mid-Air, Tears Through Canopy In Shocking Video
A shocking moment shows the terrifying moment a paraglider was struck by a small plane over the Austrian Alps, leaving the flyer spinning toward the ground before she managed to deploy her emergency chute and land safely, according to the New York Post. The incident happened Saturday afternoon near Schmittenhohe mountain, a popular spot for paragliding in northern Austria. According to the Salzburg State Police, Sabrina, a 44-year-old experienced paraglider, was flying with a camera mounted when a sightseeing plane suddenly passed directly through her canopy, just feet above her head.Also read | EasyJet Flight From Egypt To UK Diverted After Phone Charging In Checked Bag Sparks Safety ConcernThe first-person footage shows the wing splitting in half on impact. Sabrina immediately began spiralling and screaming as she lost control. With the main canopy shredded, she reached for her reserve parachute and managed to deploy it while falling.Austrian police responded by helicopter and transported her to a local airport for medical checks. "The propeller of the motor plane severely damaged the paraglider, prompting the experienced paraglider to deploy her reserve parachute," police said as quoted by NBC News.Here's what exactly happened:🇦🇹 A paraglider collided midair with a Cessna 172 over Austria and somehow survived.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— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 24, 2026Also read | US Woman, 81, Reacts After Getting Swatted During Minecraft LivestreamThe police said that both she and the pilot escaped serious injury. After landing at Zell am See Airport, the 28-year-old pilot also told the authorities that he was unable to avoid the collision.She later posted that aside from bruises and contusions, she walked away with no serious injuries. "I actually still can't believe that I'm sitting here typing this and apart from a few nasty bruises and bruises all around nothing really happened," she wrote on Instagram in German.The footage has since circulated widely on social media platforms, highlighting the risks of shared airspace and the importance of emergency equipment.
