‘Amateur pilot with no flight plan': Paraglider strikes power line, crashes into North Dakota river; chilling video emerges
The incident, which occurred on July 8, according to USA Today, was caught on camera by an onlooker, Dusty Howlett. The viral video shows the powered parachute striking overhead wires, triggering sparks. Soon after the strike, the glider and pilot plummet into the North Dakota river.
'Whoa, oh no!' Howlett can be heard saying in the video as the crash unfolds. Emergency crews were soon seen recovering the wreckage from the water.
In a Facebook post, Howlett shared the details of the incident that unfolded in front of his eyes. He shared that he had been walking with a friend when 'this guy in a powered parachute flew way too low' and failed to notice the power lines overhead.
'He landed in the river and was waving and talking to us – water rescue is here now, so hopefully he will be ok. If you have a recreational aircraft, please be careful and pay attention to your surroundings!' he wrote.
Responding to a comment, Howlett confirmed the pilot was 'thankfully' unharmed.
Watch the video here:
A post shared by Brut (@brutamerica)
Reacting to the video, a user wrote, 'Tell me you from North Dakota without saying you from North Dakota.' Another user commented, 'Without differential energy, no electric discharge.'
'Amateur pilot with no flight plan. Not a surprise. Glad they didn't die. Sad. Idiocracy,' a third user slammed the pilot.
Grand Forks Police Lt Travis M Benson told USA TODAY on July 14 that the pilot had been flying low along the river and didn't see the power lines in time due to sun glare. 'He attempted to drop beneath them but struck the wires instead,' Benson said, adding that the pilot fell straight into the river but was able to stay afloat.
According to a July 8 press release from the Grand Forks Fire Department, a rescue boat was deployed, and responders found the pilot uninjured. Authorities have not released his name.
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