British Tourist, Pilot Die in Paragliding Crash in Turkey

A 22-year-old British tourist and his 29-year-old pilot died after their parachute malfunctioned during a tandem paragliding flight from Babadag mountain in Fethiye, Turkey. Shortly after taking off, the pair's parachute broke and they plummeted onto jagged rocks, leading other paragliders to alert emergency services. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, and their bodies were recovered for post-mortem examinations. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the accident, suspending all paragliding flights from the popular site while examining the crash scene and equipment. Despite Babadag’s reputation for breathtaking paragliding experiences, authorities note that fatal incidents remain rare relative to the large number of flights, with a 2023 study reporting only three fatalities among over 241,000 flights. The British Foreign Office has stated it stands ready to assist if approached.