The moment an American paraglider pilot got stuck in the sky because of a balloon

(Dan Tri) - A seemingly funny moment almost turned into a tragedy in the sky, when a paragliding pilot in the US faced a dangerous situation because of a balloon.

Michael (27 years old), who has 6 years of experience flying paragliders, recounted the terrifying experience in a TikTok video that attracted more than 4 million views. During a flight on a motorized paraglider, he suddenly discovered a strange object floating across his eye.

“Right after takeoff, I saw something flying in the air. At first I thought it was another pilot, then I thought it might be a big bird. But when I got closer, it turned out to be a birthday balloon in the shape of a number 6,” Michael told the Daily Dot .

US: Paragliding pilot nearly lost his life because of a balloon

As Michael tried to catch the ball, the rope that tied the ball to the parachute suddenly got tangled in the parachute cord - the important part that connects the parachute wing to the pilot - causing Michael to be stuck at an altitude of about 450m for several minutes, unable to control or land.

“I have never encountered such a crazy situation. Usually my flights are peaceful, just enjoying the beautiful scenery. Previously, the strangest memory was... a cow took my tools, I had to run nearly 3km to get them back,” he told the New York Post .

Luckily, after several tense minutes, Michael still landed safely, bringing the balloon with him as a “trophy”. He even joked that he had painted a “balloon shooting” symbol on the engine as a souvenir trophy.

However, the incident also highlights the environmental impact of balloons. “Many farmers have reported that helium balloons often fall into their fields and harm their livestock. This shows that these balloons are more dangerous than we think,” Michael said.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/khoanh-khac-phi-cong-du-luon-my-mac-ket-giua-troi-vi-qua-bong-bay-20250918144120203.htm