Self-Taught Paraglider Crashes Into Hikers at Ma On Shan, Three Injured
On.cc · 14 SOURCESabout 19 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A paragliding accident at Ma On Shan's Ngong Ping Camp site left three hikers injured on Sunday afternoon. A 50-year-old male paraglider lost control while landing and struck a 42-year-old woman and two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, who were hiking in the area. The victims sustained injuries including head wounds and back pain, and were evacuated by Government Flying Service helicopter to Ruttonjee Hospital. The male operator was taken to Ma On Shan Police Station for questioning. The Civil Aviation Department has stated it is following up with law enforcement agencies and paragliding organizations regarding the incident.
Key Points
- The incident occurred at approximately 12:36 PM on Sunday, November 8, at Ngong Ping Camp in Ma On Shan Country Park
- The 42-year-old female victim, Mrs. Zheng, used the HKSOS police mobile application to call for help, allowing authorities to quickly locate the injured trio
- Government Flying Service deployed a helicopter to rescue the three conscious victims, transferring them via Wan Chai helipad to Ruttonjee Hospital
- The 50-year-old paraglider, Mr. Ye, began self-teaching paragliding through YouTube videos in January this year, despite warnings from experienced flyers about his unsafe techniques
- Aviation enthusiasts had flagged Mr. Ye's questionable operations approximately nine months prior, but he ignored advice to seek qualified instruction
Why It Matters
The accident exposes significant gaps in Hong Kong's paragliding safety regime. While the Civil Aviation Department introduced a voluntary registration system in October 2023, there are no mandatory penalties for untrained practitioners, allowing individuals to operate dangerous equipment without proper oversight . This incident also raises concerns about airspace safety, as untrained paragliders may inadvertently enter commercial flight paths and jeopardize aviation security .
The accident exposes significant gaps in Hong Kong's paragliding safety regime. While the Civil Aviation Department introduced a voluntary registration system in October 2023, there are no mandatory penalties for untrained practitioners, allowing individuals to operate dangerous equipment without proper oversight . This incident also raises concerns about airspace safety, as untrained paragliders may inadvertently enter commercial flight paths and jeopardize aviation security .