Overview

• On July 8, a powered paraglider struck overhead wires above the Riverside Dam boat ramp in Grand Forks, sparking on impact in video captured by bystander Dusty Howlett.
• Lt. Travis M. Benson of the Grand Forks Police Department said sun glare and low-altitude flight prevented the pilot from spotting the power lines in time.
• The craft’s buoyant wheels kept the paraglider afloat until the Grand Forks Fire Department launched a rescue boat to retrieve the pilot and wreckage.
• Responders found the pilot uninjured and recovered the equipment before concluding the rescue, and authorities have not released his identity.
• Aviation experts say the incident highlights the hazards of flying close to obstacles and the importance of clear visibility on recreational powered paragliding flights.