Canadian Paraglider Megan Elizabeth Found Dead After Crash in Dhauladhar Mountains

Canadian Paraglider Megan Elizabeth Found Dead After Crash in Dhauladhar Mountains

Palampur, Himachal Pradesh – October 20, 2025 – In a tragic end to a high-altitude rescue effort, 27-year-old Canadian paraglider Megan Elizabeth was found dead this morning in the treacherous Dhauladhar mountain range, north of the Himani Chamunda temple near Palampur. Megan, a solo pilot who had taken off from Billing on Saturday for what was supposed to be a routine flight, went missing after her glider reportedly crash-landed in a remote and rugged area at an altitude of approximately 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) above sea level.

Her body was located late last night by Rahul Singh, a member of the rescue team organized by the Baijnath administration in coordination with climbers and volunteers from the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA). Singh was the first to be dropped by helicopter into the steep, inhospitable terrain. By the time he reached her location, Megan had already succumbed to a combination of extreme cold and injuries sustained during the crash landing on rocky ground.

Rahul Singh spent the night beside Megan’s body in sub-zero temperatures, awaiting the arrival of additional rescue personnel. Early this morning, five more team members were airlifted to the crash site. Working in challenging conditions, they managed to move Megan’s body about 500 meters uphill from the crash site to enable easier evacuation by helicopter.

By early afternoon, the rescue team successfully retrieved Megan Elizabeth’s body and transported it to Gaggal Airport. A post-mortem examination will be conducted before her remains are sent to New Delhi, where they will be handed over to officials from the Canadian Embassy. Authorities confirmed that the embassy had been informed of the tragedy shortly after the mishap was confirmed.

A Tragic Turn for a Solo Flight

Megan Elizabeth, an experienced but solo paraglider, had taken off from Billing — one of the world’s most renowned paragliding destinations — on Saturday, expecting to land at Chogan roughly two hours later. However, she lost her way and drifted northward into an isolated and dangerous zone near Talan Jot, a snow-covered region notorious for unpredictable winds and sharp terrain.

Local sources say Megan was not well-acquainted with the Dhauladhar’s topography, a factor that may have contributed to her navigational error. The dense fog, sudden weather shifts, and limited daylight likely worsened her situation after the crash.

Safety Concerns Grow in India’s Paragliding Capital

Megan’s death is the latest in a troubling series of paragliding accidents in the region. Over the past five years, 26 gliders have crashed in the Kangra and Mandi districts, resulting in 12 fatalities — many of them foreign pilots — and numerous injuries. In several cases, neither the gliders nor the pilots’ bodies were recovered, pointing to the extreme dangers posed by the region’s geography and climate.

Just last year, Navy Lt. Commander Viven Dev of Kerala lost his life when his glider went down in a forest near Bir-Billing. His death prompted serious concerns about safety standards and enforcement. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has since taken suo motu cognizance of the growing number of paragliding mishaps and is reviewing the lack of compliance with existing safety regulations.

Regulations Often Ignored

Despite being India’s paragliding hub, safety compliance in Bir-Billing remains lax. Under the 2004 AeroSpace Rules, the government mandates that pilots must:

• Hold a valid licence from the Aero Sport Society of India

• Use an internationally certified (homologated) glider and safety gear

• Carry a two-way radio, altimeter, barometer, compass, and speed indicator

• Be equipped with two first-aid kits

• Have access to ground retrieval support and helicopter insurance coverage for emergencies

While the Tourism Department has laid down these rules, enforcement is often reactive rather than preventive — with action typically coming only after a tragedy.

Authorities admit that many foreign pilots arriving in Bir-Billing, although skilled, are unfamiliar with the Dhauladhar’s extreme geography, making them vulnerable to misjudgment. Sudden weather changes and the temptation to fly over high-altitude terrain without adequate backup systems have resulted in fatal outcomes.

A Community in Mourning

Megan Elizabeth’s death has sent shockwaves through the global paragliding community. Known for her passion for adventure and love for flying, she had previously flown in multiple countries and was reportedly thrilled to experience India’s famed paragliding destination.

Local residents, pilots, and tourism operators in Palampur and Bir-Billing are mourning the loss. Meanwhile, the incident has once again brought to the forefront the need for stricter safety protocols, mandatory route training, and real-time tracking systems for all flights, especially those undertaken by solo pilots in high-risk areas.

The Baijnath administration has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, and officials are calling for renewed discussions around flight regulations, monitoring, and emergency response infrastructure.

As her family, friends, and fellow adventurers grieve, Megan’s story stands as a somber reminder of both the beauty and danger that the world’s highest peaks and skies can hold.

🕊️ Megan Elizabeth (1998–2025)
A fearless spirit taken too soon. May she rest in peace among the skies she loved to soar.