A paraglider from the UK has been arrested in Turkey following a mid-air collision that resulted in the death of a 30-year-old national-level paraglider, Orkut Baysal, and injured another paraglider, Andac Unsal. The incident took place on April 29 in Turkey’s Fethiye district, and 45-year-old Thomas Aitken was arrested in connection with the case. According to local news website Hurriyet Daily News, the collision happened due to windy conditions.
Mr. Aitken was performing a solo jump from a height of 1,200 meters, while Mr. Baysal and Mr. Unsal were performing a tandem flight from 1,700 meters above sea level. During their descent, their parachutes became entangled at just 20 meters above the ground, causing them to hit the building of a hotel before landing on the edge of its swimming pool.
Local police and medics rushed to the scene and took the injured paragliders to Fethiye State Hospital for treatment. However, Mr. Baysal could not survive the impact of the crash, while Mr. Unsal and Mr. Aitken were treated at the hospital and found to be in good health, with their injuries not being life-threatening.
Turkish authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collision and whether there was any negligence by those involved. This incident is the latest in a series of paragliding accidents involving British nationals. In 2020, a British man died in a paragliding accident in the Spanish Pyrenees after crashing into a mountain peak called Pico Gallinero.
Paragliding is a popular sport that involves flying using a parachute-like wing and is often done in tandem with an experienced pilot. However, accidents can occur due to various factors, including equipment failure, pilot error, and weather conditions. It is important to follow safety guidelines and receive proper training before attempting this activity.
