According to Xinhua News Agency report on August 27th, a paragliding accident occurred in the tourist destination of Fethiye in Muraya Province, southwestern Turkey, on the local time of the 26th. This accident resulted in the death of a Turkish paragliding pilot and a Chinese tourist.
According to Turkish media reports, at around 10 a.m. that day, paraglider pilot Ali Kedler and a Chinese tourist took off from Babada Mountain for a tandem paragliding flight. Shortly thereafter, the paraglider fell into a steep rock area of the mountain due to unknown reasons, resulting in the tragic death of both individuals.
After receiving the alarm, rescue forces rushed to the scene to begin search and rescue efforts. The accident site was steep and covered with rocks. After several hours of searching, the rescuers found the remains of two people.
Later that day, the Chinese Embassy in Turkey confirmed that one of the victims was indeed a Chinese citizen. The embassy has contacted the family of the victim and will provide necessary assistance.
Fethiye-Ölüdeniz region is recognized as one of the three world's top paragliding destinations, on a par with Pokhara in Nepal and Interlaken in Switzerland. The key to this reputation lies in Babada Mountain, which stands at an altitude of approximately 1969 meters. A takeoff height of nearly 2000 meters provides ample time for gliding flights, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the blue lagoon, Butterfly Valley, and the Mediterranean coastline.
Although paragliding in Fethiye is a mature commercial activity, as an extreme sport, risks always exist.
According to a study published in the Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine in 2023, during statistics on 241,420 paragliding flights in Babadağ, including 187,639 double gliders and 53,881 single gliders, 44 accidents were recorded, resulting in an accident rate of approximately 0.018%. Of these accidents, 3 were fatal. The study also indicated that most accidents occurred during takeoff and landing phases, but the fatality rate was highest during flight.
