Two foreign paragliders rescued after crash landing during flights in Manali and Bir Billing

A 36-year-old Austrian paraglider, identified as Philipp Zellner, was rescued on Sunday morning after crash-landing near Rani Sui ridge above Manali in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district. Zellner had taken off from Bir Billing, a world-famous paragliding site, three days earlier.

Officials of the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) said they were informed about the crash around 3 pm on Saturday. As soon as they received the alert, a rescue team was sent to locate him in the high mountain area. Due to the challenging terrain, a helicopter was also called in to assist with the operation.

After several hours of searching, Zellner was located and found injured. On Sunday morning, rescuers managed to airlift him from the ridge and take him to safety. He was later transported to a private hospital in Chandigarh for treatment. His condition is said to be stable, though he sustained multiple injuries during the fall.

This incident comes just a month after a tragic case involving a Canadian solo paraglider. The Canadian had also taken off from Bir Billing but was found dead after crash-landing in the Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Kangra district. Officials said the weather and strong winds at high altitudes often pose risks to solo paragliders attempting long-distance flights.

The BPA confirmed that another Austrian paraglider was also rescued from the same Dhauladhar region last month. He had taken off from Bir Billing and got stranded in the mountains due to changing wind patterns and difficult weather conditions.

Russian woman saved after night-long rescue

In a separate incident, a 70-year-old Russian woman paraglider was rescued on Saturday after she crash-landed in the Dhauladhar mountain ranges the previous evening. The BPA said she had taken off from Bir Billing on Friday, but her paraglider went down in the rugged forest area due to unpredictable air currents.

As soon as the information was received, a rescue team was dispatched to locate her. The operation turned into a night-long effort because of the steep slopes, dense vegetation, and lack of light in the area. According to Suresh Thakur, founder member of the Billing Paragliding Association, the team had to walk for several hours in difficult terrain to reach her.

“The rescue efforts continued through the night. She was finally located and carried downhill on a stretcher after an eight-hour walk,” Thakur said. The woman was later taken to a hospital in Palampur for treatment. She had suffered an ankle injury but was conscious and responsive during the rescue.

Both incidents have once again drawn attention to the dangers of paragliding in the Himalayan regions, especially during changing weather conditions. Experts say that even experienced paragliders can face unexpected downdrafts or lose control when wind directions shift suddenly.

Bir Billing: India’s paragliding capital

Bir Billing, located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, is widely known as the paragliding capital of India. Every year, thousands of adventure enthusiasts from across the world visit the site to experience the thrill of flying over the scenic Dhauladhar range. The site is famous for its strong thermals, which help paragliders stay airborne for long periods, and its breathtaking mountain views.

Bir Billing is also one of the top-ranked paragliding destinations in the world, hosting both national and international competitions. However, as the sport grows in popularity, local authorities and the BPA have repeatedly warned pilots about the importance of checking weather forecasts, flight paths, and wind conditions before takeoff.

According to BPA members, most accidents occur when pilots fly beyond safe limits or underestimate the effects of unpredictable mountain weather. The association has been working with local authorities to improve safety measures and ensure that all paragliders — especially foreign tourists — are properly briefed before flying.

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While rescue operations in these mountains are often challenging, Himachal Pradesh has a strong network of trained volunteers and local guides who assist in such missions. Helicopter rescues, though expensive and weather-dependent, are sometimes the only way to save lives in remote and high-altitude regions.

Recent incidents, including the deaths and injuries of foreign paragliders, have sparked renewed calls for stricter regulation and monitoring of solo flights. Many experts have suggested limiting high-altitude or cross-valley flights during windy or cloudy conditions.

Despite these risks, Bir Billing continues to attract flyers from around the world for its unique mix of adventure and natural beauty. Local residents and tourism operators hope that improved safety practices and better coordination between authorities and the paragliding community will help prevent future accidents.

Both Zellner and the Russian paraglider are now recovering in hospitals, thankful for the quick response of rescue teams who risked their own safety to bring them back from the dangerous mountain slopes.