A man in his thirties was critically injured Thursday after crashing on the rocks while paragliding off the coast of Jbeil. The victim, a father of two and an experienced paraglider, was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
The accident comes just days after a fatal crash in Jounieh Bay, where another paragliding enthusiast lost his life in similar circumstances, raising renewed concerns over the safety of the sport in Lebanon.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports said on Thursday evening it was closely monitoring the Jbeil incident. In a press release, the ministry noted it is awaiting the outcome of official investigations to determine whether the flight was carried out independently or under the authorization of a licensed association.
It added that the paraglider had been using equipment linked to acro-paragliding, a discipline banned in Lebanon under Circular No. 456/W issued on August 22, 2025. The ministry said it will act on the findings of the investigation and take legal measures against any violations of the ban.
It is noteworthy that paragliding has recently come under tighter scrutiny. The circular issued by the Ministry officially banning acro-paragliding, citing the absence of any legal framework regulating the activity. The decision, referencing a 2007 decree that authorizes only standard paragliding and hang-gliding, made clear that acrobatic forms of the sport are strictly prohibited.
The Ministry also warned that violations apply not only to paragliders themselves but also to operators and managers of takeoff sites, who could face administrative penalties and criminal prosecution.
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