The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Turkey, warning of the dangers of paragliding following a series of accidents involving British nationals.
In its latest guidance, the FCDO said paragliding is an extreme sport carrying a risk of serious injury or death. It noted that British nationals have died or been seriously injured while paragliding in Turkey, and advised travellers to receive full instructions and training before taking part. The warning also tells bystanders to maintain a safe distance from potential landing zones, which may be located in public areas.
The update follows an incident in April when a British tourist and his pilot died after their parachute malfunctioned during a flight from Babadag mountain in Fethiye. The pair, aged 22 and 29, plummeted to the ground shortly after takeoff. In a separate incident last year, 15-year-old Lily Nichol from Chester-le-Street was seriously injured when she was hit by a paraglider while eating with her family in Oludeniz. Last week, an 81-year-old German citizen, Volker Gerhard Wagner, died after launching a solo flight from the same mountain.
The FCDO also reminded travellers to buy alcohol only from licensed premises and to check bottle seals for tampering, due to risks from homemade drinks. British passport holders are advised to ensure their passports have at least 150 days validity beyond their arrival date and contain at least one blank page. Visa-free travel for British citizens is permitted for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
