Paragliding Crashes at Shimla: The third Flying Festival and Hospitality Expo 2025 launched with high hopes in Shimla’s Junga area on Saturday, but the excitement took a hit when two paraglider pilots crashed while landing. Both pilots, thrown off balance in the final moments, were injured, dimming the event’s opening day. A technical team is now probing what caused the mishap, with early guesses pointing to tricky air pressure.
Social media is buzzing with videos showing the pilots wobbling wildly just before hitting the ground. This comes hot on the heels of a grim incident in Bir Billing the previous day, where three paragliders crashed after takeoff. Tragically, a Canadian woman pilot lost her life, and others were hurt, with rough weather and air pressure blamed for the chaos.
The three-day festival, kicked off by Chief Minister’s media advisor Naresh Chauhan, is a big deal, drawing pilots from over seven countries, including China’s top-ranked fliers for the first time. Organizer Arun Rawat shared the goal: make Shimla a global adventure tourism hotspot and position Himachal as a prime spot for air sports and eco-tourism. The event also hosts the Paragliding Pre-World Cup and Pre-Asian League Championships, a first for India.
Despite the crashes, the festival is pushing to showcase thrilling flights and promote Himachal’s charm. Pilots from around the world are showing off their skills, but these accidents highlight the risks of high-flying sports. Organizers are now focused on tightening safety measures to keep the event soaring safely through its final days.
