American tourist fights Swiss hang-glider to save his life – Switzerland

In a passenger video posted on YouTube on Monday, the two pilots noticed immediately after the departure that the passenger was no longer as usual with a strap hanging on free wings. The pilot therefore quickly searched for a landing strip.

But after just over two minutes of flight, the hang glider finally landed on a meadow near Unterseen BE. Shortly before the landing, the passenger fell and suffered, according to his own information, a broken wrist. In addition, a tendon in the arm was torn due to the long adhesion to the steering rod of the aircraft.

The United States man took the incident with Galgenhumor: he saw no reason to stop flying. Because he could not enjoy his first flight in the delta, he writes in the video. Both injuries are certainly better than the alternative. This concerns the accident on the slopes of Niederhorn, near Beatenberg BE.

"Basic error"

According to Christian Boppart, president of the Swiss Hang gliding Federation (SHV), the licensed driver had experienced "a fundamental mistake" on request. The "Lesson Number 1" in the Delta Flying involves attaching yourself and a prospective passenger with hang gliding straps.

He has never seen anything like it, says Boppart. However, once a non-belted delta driver crashed fatally.

There is no obligation to report such cases, said Boppart. The VHS was now in contact with the pilot and would discuss the incident with him. Possible sanctions must be taken by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (Bazl).

Bazl spokesman Christian Schubert said on request that the Bureau even because of the video of the incident. He now clarifies the facts. If necessary, an administrative procedure will be initiated. Possible in such a case, a withdrawal of license. One may wonder if there is a criminal complaint.

Until now, nothing like the Bernese cantonal police said on request. This is why no investigation was ongoing.

Clicked more than a million times

The video titled "Swiss Mishap", the first media in Switzerland to attract 20 minutes of attention, has been viewed more than a million times. "That's for Swiss precision," says the group in comments on the Youtube video platform, among others.

Interlaken and its surroundings are a popular destination for adventure tourists from all over the world. Many companies offer tandem flights with paragliding or hang gliding.

"We have several thousand landings a year," said Christoph Leibundgut, media spokesperson for Interlaken Tourism. "Basically, these offers are safe."