A paraglider soaring above the Austrian Alps probably expected to spend the afternoon riding thermals and enjoying mountain views. Getting hit by a small airplane was not on the itinerary.
Yet that’s exactly what happened when a sightseeing aircraft collided with a 44-year-old Austrian paraglider named Sabrina high above the mountains near Piesendorf, Austria, on May 23. The entire incident was captured by her helmet camera, creating one of the most unbelievable aviation survival videos to go viral this year.
After surviving the collision, Sabrina shared the footage on her Instagram account, where it quickly spread across social media and news outlets worldwide. The video shows her peacefully gliding above the Alps when a small airplane suddenly appears and flies directly through the top of her wing.
Within seconds, the canopy is shredded, the paraglider collapses, and she is spinning toward the ground.
Against all odds, she survived.
A Plane Suddenly Appears Out of Nowhere
@skynewsA 44-year-old Austrian woman posted a video of the moment a small plane flew through her glider. The woman was left spiralling out of control but survived after deploying her reserve parachute. #SkyNews♬ original sound – Sky News
The collision occurred near the Pinzgauer Hütte area outside Zell am See, a region popular with both sightseeing flights and paragliding. According to the Salzburg State Police, Sabrina was flying in the area when a sightseeing aircraft operated by a 28-year-old pilot struck her paraglider canopy. The pilot later told authorities he was unable to avoid the collision.
Video from Sabrina’s helmet camera shows clear skies and stunning mountain scenery moments before the crash. For several seconds, there is no indication that anything is wrong. Then an approaching aircraft enters the frame and passes directly through the canopy.
The impact tears apart the wing almost instantly, sending the paraglider into an uncontrolled spin as pieces of fabric and lines trail through the air. What had been a routine flight above the Alps suddenly becomes a life-threatening emergency.
What makes the footage remarkable is Sabrina’s reaction. Despite the chaos, she remains calm enough to deploy her reserve parachute. The backup chute opens successfully, stabilizing her descent before she reaches the ground.
The video shows the shredded remains of the paraglider still trailing behind her as she descends. She eventually landed safely and escaped with bruises and minor injuries despite what appeared to be a potentially fatal situation.
Sabrina later wrote that she still could not believe she was sitting at home typing about the experience after surviving the collision.
Both Pilots Walked Away
According to Austrian authorities, the aircraft was being flown by a 28-year-old pilot conducting a sightseeing flight in the area at the time of the collision.
Despite striking the paraglider and reportedly sustaining damage, the airplane remained controllable. The pilot successfully landed at Zell am See Airport and was not seriously injured. Emergency crews also responded to Sabrina, who was transported for medical evaluation.
Remarkably, neither person suffered life-threatening injuries.
That outcome alone has stunned many viewers. The video looks more like the beginning of an aviation disaster documentary than something both participants would eventually walk away from.
Online reactions have largely fallen into two camps. Many viewers questioned how a brightly colored paraglider could go unnoticed in the open sky, while others focused on the fact that Sabrina survived at all. Some experienced pilots and glider enthusiasts noted that paragliders can be surprisingly difficult to spot from certain angles because they present a relatively thin profile when viewed head-on or from behind.
Others credited Sabrina’s training, quick reactions, and emergency equipment for helping turn what looked like a fatal accident into a survivable one. Watching the footage, it is easy to understand why so many people described the outcome as miraculous.
Investigators Are Looking Into What Happened
Authorities have opened an investigation into the collision and are examining how the airplane and paraglider ended up occupying the same section of sky.
Officials have not reported any mechanical issues involving either aircraft. Instead, investigators are focusing on the circumstances that led to the midair collision between two aircraft operating in the same area.
According to multiple reports, Austrian authorities have filed a negligence-related injury complaint against the pilot as part of the ongoing investigation. Officials will ultimately determine exactly what happened and whether any additional action is warranted.
While aviation incidents involving small aircraft are uncommon, direct collisions between powered aircraft and paragliders are even rarer. That’s one reason the footage has generated such intense interest online, with many viewers asking how two people sharing such an enormous amount of airspace could end up in the exact same place at the exact same moment.
Investigators will ultimately answer that question. For now, the most remarkable part of the story may simply be the ending.
A sightseeing airplane flew through a paraglider’s wing thousands of feet above the Austrian Alps, shredding the canopy and sending the pilot into an uncontrolled descent. Somehow, both Sabrina and the airplane pilot made it back to the ground alive.