SWI swissinfo.ch: American tourist's paraglider pilot temporarily loses licence

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Dangling Experience
American tourist's paraglider pilot temporarily loses licence
This content was published on March 20, 2019 12:36 PM Mar 20, 2019 - 12:36
Hang gliders landing on a meadow

The Swiss resort of Interlaken is a popular hub for paragliders. But not all flights end successfully.  
(Keystone/Dominic Steinmann)

The Swiss aviation authorities have suspended the licence of a hang glider pilot following a harrowing incident with an American tourist last year.

The Federal Office for Civil Aviation confirmed on Tuesday that the pilot would lose his licence for two months, but it stopped short of a permanent ban, saying the pilot’s aptitude was not in question.

The experienced pilot has already been fined of CHF800 ($800) and a criminal investigation against him is still pending.

The incident occurred last November, when a tourist from the United States on his first-ever hang glider trip as a passenger found himself not strapped in properly as the glider left the ground.

The pilot tried an emergency landing on a meadow outside the popular tourist resort of Interlaken in the Swiss Alps with the passenger hanging on to him.

The tourist suffered several injuries including a fracture to his right wrist shortly before the glider was able to land.

The video footage below of the frightening flight experience, published on YouTube, went viral.
paraglider

paraglider not strapped in

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There are 3 comments on this article.
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"MathMan commented on the content at 20 March 2019 15:18".
MathMan 20-Mar-2019 15:18
I guess so
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"MathMan commented on the content at 20 March 2019 15:21".
MathMan 20-Mar-2019 15:21
Apparently double checking the security system is not part of the aptitude for a pilot flying with clients. Not very encouraging. No one else should be subjected to this pilot.
Write an answer...
 "Monica replied to the comment of MathMan at 21 March 2019 00:23."
Monica 21-Mar-2019 00:23
He should have lost his license.
Write an answer...
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