Fatal paragliding accident on the Planai: 38-year-old German woman crashes in Schladming

Investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office

The Leoben Public Prosecutor's Office has been brought into the case to clarify the exact circumstances of the crash. The police secured evidence at the scene of the accident and questioned eyewitnesses about the sequence of events. According to the officers, the victim is a German citizen.

The Planai is one of the most well-known mountains in the Schladming-Dachstein region and is a popular destination for paragliders in summer. The mid-station, from which the woman took off, is accessible by cable car and is regularly used as a launch site for paragliders.

Rescue operation on the mountain

Representatives of the Red Cross and mountain rescue services were deployed to carry out the recovery on the steep terrain. The rescue teams had to work under difficult conditions, as the crash site on the slope is difficult to access.

Officers of the Styrian State Police Directorate described the sequence of events in a press release. "Nach bisherigen Ermittlungen und Zeugenaussagen klappte der Gleitschirm der 38-Jährigen unmittelbar nach dem Start in einer Rechtskurve auf einer Seite ein", it stated. "Ersthelfer – darunter ein zufällig anwesender Arzt – leiteten umgehend Reanimationsmaßnahmen ein", the officers continued.

The Planai as a launch site for paragliders

The identity of the victim was initially not publicly released by the police. The Leoben Public Prosecutor's Office is examining whether third-party negligence can be ruled out and whether technical defects in the paraglider played a role.

Fatal paragliding accidents are comparatively rare in Styria, but they do occur repeatedly. The alpine police and the public prosecutor's office routinely investigate after every fatal accident in order to document the causes for future safety measures.

The news of the fatal accident caused dismay in the Schladming region. The Planai is a landmark of Styrian tourism and the venue for well-known winter sports events; in summer, the mountain primarily serves as a hiking and flying area.

The investigations by the Leoben Public Prosecutor's Office and the Styrian State Police Directorate are ongoing. Evidence of third-party negligence or technical defects in the paraglider is being examined. The responsible remedial authority has been informed.