The tragic death of 16-year-old Hussein M. R., a Lebanese-Australian teenager, during a paragliding flight in the coastal city of Jounieh, has sent shockwaves through Lebanon. What was supposed to be a thrilling and joyful experience ended in disaster, reviving long-standing concerns over the safety of paragliding in the country and highlighting the lack of clear regulations and safety oversight in this high-risk sport.

Another Tragedy From the Skies

Hussein had traveled from Australia to visit family in Lebanon. His flight was meant to be an unforgettable adventure, yet it ended fatally. After the crash, the tandem pilot flying with Hussein fled the scene. In response, the judiciary issued an urgent ban on paragliding in the Jounieh area and sealed off the launch site with red wax, effectively halting all activity.

But this wasn’t an isolated incident. Just last April, two other young men narrowly survived after falling into the sea while launching from the same site. These repeated mishaps cast serious doubt on the safety of the location and the standards, or lack thereof, followed by local operators.

Alarming Safety Gaps

Statements from the victim’s family have exposed troubling negligence. According to Hussein’s uncle, the teen was not securely strapped i,n and his excess weight was reportedly overlooked. A video circulating online shows Hussein struggling to hold onto the parachute for over two minutes before falling in a harrowing scene.

These details spotlight dangerous lapses in the safety procedures that should be mandatory for paragliding operators, especially when flying with minors or first-time participants.

Who Should Be Allowed to Fly?

In countries that take safety seriously, paragliding is a highly regulated activity. International norms often require:

- Certified instructors with accreditation from global federations

- Mandatory medical checkups for participants

- Liability and personal injury insurance

- Real-time weather and wind condition checks before takeoff

- Weight assessments to match the seat’s capacity

- A legal minimum age (often 16 or 18)

- Pre-registration of flights with civil aviation or security authorities

In Lebanon, however, many of these safeguards are either absent or inconsistently applied. Paragliding activities are often run by private companies or individuals without sufficient oversight, creating a patchwork system driven more by commercial interest than public safety.

Where Are the Laws?

To date, Lebanon has no unified legal framework regulating paragliding. Flights are sometimes authorized by the army, municipalities, or tourism bodies, but such approvals fall short of establishing a solid legal foundation. There is no active federation enforcing rules on licensed instructors or verified launch sites. Nor is there a regulatory body requiring equipment inspections or license renewals for operators.

How Do Other Countries Handle It?

In France, Switzerland, and Austria, paragliding is tightly controlled:

- Training at licensed schools is mandatory

- Pilots must hold a paragliding license

- Flights are overseen by civil aviation authorities

- Insurance for personal injury and third-party liability is compulsory

- Flights are only allowed in designated areas and monitored by air traffic control

In Dubai, for example, all flights must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority. Flying is only permitted over specific zones and must be supervised by internationally certified instructors.

Should Paragliding Be Banned—or Better Regulated?

Paragliding is not inherently deadly. Hundreds of thousands enjoy the sport worldwide each year without incident, provided that:

- Clear laws are in place

- Official oversight of sites and operators exists

- Mandatory professional licenses for instructors are enforced

- Flyers undergo basic training

- Equipment undergoes regular safety checks

- Medical support is available on-site

A Call to Action

Hussein’s death is more than a heartbreaking story—it is a wake-up call. Lebanese authorities can no longer ignore the human cost of regulatory gaps. Aerial sports should not be left unregulated or unmonitored, nor should families’ search for joy be turned into tragedy.

It’s time for Lebanon to enact a comprehensive law governing paragliding—one that protects lives and prevents future disasters.