Paragliding Accident Over Austrian Alps Ends in Survival

A 44-year-old woman experienced a terrifying incident while paragliding over the Austrian Alps. The event unfolded in the Piesendorf area of Salzburg, when she collided with a small plane midair. This alarming encounter resulted in her spiraling thousands of feet above ground.

According to the Salzburg State Police, the collision occurred on Saturday. A 28-year-old pilot, operating a scenic flight, struck her glider. The pilot informed authorities that avoiding the collision was impossible.

The plane’s propeller caused severe damage to the paraglider. This prompted the experienced paraglider to deploy her reserve parachute, as reported by the police. She executed an emergency landing and was subsequently airlifted by a police helicopter. Both the woman and the pilot sustained no serious injuries.

Authorities have not released her identity. However, a woman named Sabrina shared a video of the incident on Instagram. NBC News attempted to contact her on Sunday but did not receive a response.

The video captures her gliding peacefully next to an Alpine ridgeline, with the faint sound of a plane approaching. A small white aircraft enters the frame abruptly, slicing through the glider canopy just feet above her head.

Following the collision, she began to spiral and lose altitude. Calmly, she reached for her emergency parachute. The reserve chute opened successfully, slowing her descent.

Though her face is out of view post-deployment, muffled expressions can be heard amidst the wind. Her damaged glider trailed behind in two parts, still connected to her harness.

As she swiftly descended, she freed her feet from the harness, narrowly missing a shrub before landing on a grassy area. The video concludes with her removing her gear and regaining composure after the harrowing experience.

In an automated translation of her caption, she expressed disbelief at her survival, noting she escaped with minor bruises.