Overview

• Felix Baumgartner, 56, lost control of his powered paraglider and crashed into the edge of a pool at a resort in Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy.
• Authorities have seized the paraglider and enlisted Italy’s National Agency for Flight Safety to reconstruct the flight and examine equipment performance.
• A medical examiner is conducting autopsies to establish whether a fatal medical episode or technical failure triggered the plunge.
• A staff member struck by the glider suffered only minor injuries and was released from hospital after treatment.
• The probe underscores the inherent dangers of powered paragliding and Italy’s rigorous protocols for aviation accident investigations.