Paraglider makes emergency landing on cruise ship

A powered paragliding enthusiast was forced to make an emergency landing on a cruise ship docked at Portimão port earlier this week in an unusual and unprecedented incident.

The 25-year-old Brazilian man was forced to land on the vessel, Holland America’s ‘Prinsendam’ cruise liner, following complications with his equipment. He is believed to have sustained a fractured leg following the incident.
After crash-landing on the vessel the man was immediately given medical assistance and taken to the local Barlavento Hospital. His equipment, which was caught on the top deck of the ship, was collected by the Maritime Police for inspection and to ascertain the cause of the incident.
Powered paragliding, otherwise known as paramotoring, is a form of ultra-light aviation where the pilot has a motor strapped to their back (a paramotor) which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider wing. It can be launched in windless conditions, and on level ground, by the pilot alone — no assistance is required.
Paramotorers are seen frequently on both sides of the Arade River, in the vicinity of Ferragudo and along the Praia da Rocha beach, Portimão, and Alvor beach.