What happened
On 9 December 2025, at approximately 14:10 hours, a solo paragliding accident occurred at the Shek O paragliding activities area in Hong Kong. The pilot was preparing for flight and untangling the suspension lines of a BGD Base 3 Paraglider when witnesses observed the wing partially inflating due to wind. At that time, the pilot was not wearing a helmet and was not strapped into his harness.
Shortly after the preparation began, a sudden, strong gust of wind caught the wing, lifting both the aircraft and the pilot into the air. During the ascent, the pilot was holding the risers in a crossed position. Approximately 10 seconds after becoming airborne, the left riser slipped from the pilot's grasp, leading to a collapse of the paraglider. This resulted in the pilot falling onto a nearby hillside. Following the impact, the pilot was airlifted by a Government Flying Service helicopter to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation
The AAIA has initiated an investigation into the circumstances of this 1 fatality. To date, investigators have inspected the paraglider and associated equipment, downloaded flight data from the pilot's variometer, and collected witness videos of the takeoff and subsequent flight. The investigation is also reviewing the paraglider's user manual and the pilot's autopsy report.