South Korean paraglider dies in Nepal

The pilot was a seasoned flier; Nepal paragliding authorities cite equipment failure as prima facie reason behind the mishap

A South Korean national fell to his death on Sunday paragliding in Nepal.

Aero-sport officials identified the victim as Young Min Ham (40), an experienced pilot who had made previous trips to Pokhara, 210 kilometres (130 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu.

"He died yesterday while flying solo. He was performing some maneuvers when his glider faced some technical problems, sending him hurling to the ground. He crashed on the roof of a house in Khapaudi area," Nepal Air Sports Association president Yogesh Bhattarai told The Outdoor Journal.

He added that Ham's death was probably the fourth fatality in paragliding in the past 15 years in the Himalayan tourist hub.

A detailed investigation will be conducted to know the reasons behind the equipment failure.

An official of the Nepal civil aviation authority said that the paraglider was not affiliated with any tour operator and he had did not take the required permission to paraglide in Pokhara.

"The body has been handed over to the hospital authorities and we are awaiting for his relatives to arrive from South Korea to claim it," Sanjeev Gautam of the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority said.

As many as 500 people visit paragliding hotspots like Pokhara and Sarangkot annually while more than 500,000 tourists visit Nepal every year for treks and Himalayan expeditions.

File photo © Murukesh Krishnan | The Outdoor JournalPlace: New Delhi, India