Briton arrested in Turkiye after mid-air collision kills paraglider

A 45-year old British man, Thomas Aitken, has been detained in Turkiye following a mid-air collision that resulted in the death of a fellow paraglider, The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to media reports, 30-year-old Orkut Baysal, a member of the Turkish national paragliding team, jumped from 1,700 meters above sea level in Fethiye, in Mugla province, in a tandem flight with Andac Unsal, 45, a fellow Turkish national. Around the same time, Aitken took off on a solo jump from a lesser height at the same location.

It is believed the paragliders collided as they neared the ground and fell onto a hotel roof, before coming to rest by the side of a swimming pool, The Times reported. According to Turkish media sources, their parachutes became entangled about 20 meters above the ground.

Baysal died as a result of multiple injuries. Aitken and Unsal were also hurt but their injuries were not life-threatening.

Aitken was reportedly remanded in police custody pending an investigation into the cause of the accident and whether or not any of those involved had been negligent, The Times reported.

The tragedy has sparked concerns about safety regulations and practices in the paragliding community.