Paraglider Collides With Gondola In Swiss Alps, Pilot Airlifted To Hospital
A paraglider was left dangling from the cable of a gondola at a Swiss ski resort on Sunday after an in-air collision, requiring a complex rescue operation and prompting a temporary halt to lift operations. The 59-year-old male pilot was injured in the incident and airlifted to a hospital.
The accident occurred around 10:15 a.m. at the Charmey ski resort in the Gruyère region. According to a press release from the Fribourg cantonal police, the pilot had launched from the popular Vounetz take-off site. For reasons that remain under investigation, he veered from his intended flight path and struck a cable of the Charmey gondola. The resort is a noted paragliding centre.
In a statment the local police said "On Sunday, August 31, 2025, at around 10:15 a.m., a 59-year-old paragliding student took off from the Vounetz launch area in Charmey. For reasons that have not yet been definitively established, he deviated from his route and collided with a cable of the Charmey ski lifts, where he remained entangled. The paraglider pilot had to be rescued by REGA, the Jaun rescue column and the Helicopter Technical Specialists (SSH). Injured, he was airlifted to a hospital. The ski lifts had to suspend operations for an hour to allow the paraglider to be rescued."
The paraglider's wing became entangled in the lift line, leaving the man suspended high above the ground. Emergency services, including the REGA air rescue, a specialized helicopter unit, and the Jaun rescue station, were dispatched to the scene. The resort operator suspended all gondola operations for approximately an hour to allow the delicate recovery effort to proceed safely.
Following the successful rescue, the pilot was transported to a medical facility. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the extent of his injuries. The Charmey mountain railway operator has announced that the gondola will remain closed on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Investigators are now working to determine the precise circumstances that led to the collision. Given that the incident involves an aerial transport system, the Federal Prosecutor's Office has been notified as part of standard Swiss protocol.
This incident adds to a string of recent paragliding accidents in the Swiss Alps, including a fatal crash on the Breithorn in Valais just weeks earlier. Authorities are urging pilots to exercise extreme caution and adhere strictly to designated flight zones.
Charmey is a well-known destination for both winter skiing and summer activities, including hiking and paragliding. The scenic gondola, an eight-person Garaventa model, links the village to the Vounetz summit, which is a favored launching point for paragliders in the region.
