{
  "id": 19285979,
  "title": "Paragliding association backs compulsory registration after self-taught pilot’s crash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/paragliding-association-backs-compulsory-registration-after-self",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T04:55:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373887/paragliding-association-backs-compulsory-registration-after-self-taught-pilots-crash"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong's paragliding association is considering compulsory registration amid safety concerns following a crash caused by a self-taught pilot who injured three hikers. Simon Chan Siu-ming, the association's executive secretary, said the group was open to the idea if it would improve safety for everyone. Chan explained that the pilot had been teaching himself since January after learning from online videos, without any formal training. The incident occurred at Ngong Ping campsite in Ma On Shan Country Park, when the 50-year-old pilot's paraglider landed on hikers, causing injuries to a 42-year-old woman, her 14-year-old son, and a 15-year-old boy. All three were airlifted to the hospital. Chan visited the site and met the pilot, who had received no formal training. Paragliding currently has a voluntary real-name registration scheme, which was introduced in October 2023. Experts like Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a health and physical education lecturer, argue that mandatory safety requirements should be introduced due to the risks associated with the activity. Louie suggested a task force led by the Civil Aviation Department, involving other departments responsible for country parks, recreation, and weather information. The Civil Aviation Department is already following up on the accident with law enforcement agencies and paragliding organizations.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong’s paragliding association has said it is open to compulsory registration amid mounting safety concerns after a self-taught pilot injured three hikers, with a sports expert calling for mandatory safety requirements to regulate the activity. Simon Chan Siu-ming, executive secretary of the Hong Kong China Paragliding Association, said fellow enthusiasts had known about the pilot and his…",
  "key_points": [
    "Hong Kong paragliding association mulls compulsory registration",
    "Self-taught pilot crashed, injuring three hikers",
    "Formal training not required for the accident"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Moving from voluntary to mandatory registration signals a shift toward stricter oversight to prevent untrained pilots from endangering the public during high-risk recreational activities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}