Posted from YouTube I’m not the original poster, but here’s what happened: This afternoon, a drone hit my paraglider at Torrey Pines, cutting one of my lines and forcing me to land immediately. The person who was flying the drone pretended to give me their phone number, but then took their drone and ran off. Sharing this to see if anyone recognizes this person.
Edit - This happened on January 7, 2025, at the Torrey Pines Gliderport near San Diego, California.
It might help to include the exact time, date, and location of the incident. Was it Torrey Pines in California?
Paz said:
It might help to include the exact time, date, and location of the incident. Was it Torrey Pines in California?
The person who posted the video also shared this in a local San Diego drone group:
Midair Collision Report:
Time: January 7th, 12:52 PM
Place: Torrey Pines, North Face, between the two flags
Drone operator: Unknown (photo linked below)
Paraglider pilot: Hunter M. Odaka
Damage: Paraglider lines were cut and damaged.
While flying my paraglider at the time and location above, I suddenly heard a noise like something striking the canopy. I looked up and saw a drone tangled in my lines, cutting them. I landed immediately, and a guy approached me, admitting he was flying the drone. He pretended to give me his name and phone number but then grabbed his drone and ran away.
Video evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqiyNJRqSWs
Drones shouldn’t be in the same airspace as paragliders, but I’m not sure a standard drone propeller could actually cut through paraglider lines. Those lines are made of tough nylon.
HoverHero said:
Drones shouldn’t be in the same airspace as paragliders, but I’m not sure a standard drone propeller could actually cut through paraglider lines. Those lines are made of tough nylon.
It’s a FRIA zone in that area. Model planes, paragliders, and drones are all allowed to fly legally.
HoverHero said:
Drones shouldn’t be in the same airspace as paragliders, but I’m not sure a standard drone propeller could actually cut through paraglider lines. Those lines are made of tough nylon.
Yeah, it sounds like the story might be exaggerated. Still, it’s not a good situation. I wouldn’t fly near manned aircraft at all.
If this guy was flying near the gliderport and low enough to hit a paraglider, maybe he was embarrassed because he was filming people at Black’s Beach.
He’s probably hiding out in his mom’s basement!
If I were the paraglider, I’d have just handed the drone back and said, ‘Wow, that sucks. Good luck filing your DJI Refresh claim.’ Honestly, the paraglider sounds a bit dramatic.