“My first time Hang Gliding turned into a near death experience as my safety harness was never hooked to the Glider. For 2 Minutes 14 seconds I had to hang on for my life! The landing was a rough one, but I lived to tell the story.”
First rule of tandem hang gliding: make damn sure your safety harness is hooked in. The man who was left dangling calls it the “Swiss Mishap” and opens up by warning that video may be disturbing to watch, especially to his wife. Thank goodness these dudes combined grip strength was enough to touch down safely.
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How safe are hang gliders?
As safe as the person flying them. Like any form of sport aviation, hang gliding can be dangerous if pursued carelessly. Gliders in the US are now certified for airworthiness by the Hang Glider Manufacturers Assn. (HGMA). Also, hang gliding instruction has been standardized and students learn from certified instructors using a thorough gradual training program. Despite these advances, people still make judgment errors and aviation is not very forgiving of such. The majority of pilots fly their entire careers without sustaining a serious injury.