The mishap occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 near Ngong Ping, a well-known launching and landing spot, when a 50-year-old man lost control of his glider while attempting to land, according to the Hong Kong Free Press.
The victims were a 42-year-old woman, her 14-year-old son, and her friend’s 15-year-old son.
The woman suffered head injuries that caused bleeding, her son hurt his waist, and the other teenager sustained injuries to his head and hands.
Using the local police emergency SOS app, she called for assistance, and authorities dispatched a rescue helicopter to airlift the trio.
Later, they were transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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A tandem paraglider carrying a pilot and passenger flies over Ma On Shan Country Park. Photo courtesy of Paragliding Hong Kong |
The paraglider, identified only as Yip, was uninjured in the crash. He was brought in, and preliminary questioning established there was no criminal intent.
Dimsum Daily reported that Yip had been attempting to teach himself how to paraglide since January 2026 using online YouTube tutorials.
Herman Chiu, vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong China Paragliding Association, said experienced flyers had spotted Yip’s unsafe handling months ago and exhorted him to hire a qualified instructor, but he ignored the advice.
In Hong Kong, non-commercial paragliding does not require a flight permit.
While aircraft operators are legally prohibited from flying recklessly or endangering others, Chiu said the lack of mandatory licensing makes it almost impossible to stop untrained individuals from taking off.
Following the accident, authorities reminded the public that paragliding is a high-risk sport that requires formal training and strict safety protocols to protect both fliers and bystanders.