On 26 October 2026, emergency calls came in shortly before 12:30, reporting a collision soon after take-off from the Levante launch area on the southern slope near Algodonales, close to the Levante track in La Muela. The site was difficult to reach. Callers requested urgent medical help for two injured people, and CPR was underway on one of them. Initial accounts indicated that the two pilots had collided in the air.
Both died. The 42-year-old man, who held a Lebanese passport, died at the scene. The 35-year-old woman, an American national, died while being taken for medical care after suffering serious injuries.
The 112 coordination room activated Centro de Emergencias Sanitarias 061, with the Guardia Civil also alerted. Policía Local de Algodonales and the Centro de Control del Tránsito Aéreo were notified. The Centro de Coordinación y Rescate was mobilised as well. A medical helicopter and a Guardia Civil rescue helicopter were sent to the site, while the Guardia Civil’s mountain rescue group, GREIM, also took part in the operation. The Guardia Civil opened judicial proceedings to clarify the circumstances of the crash.
Algodonales is one of Europe’s most sought-after places for paragliding. It hosted the Paragliding World Cup in May 2025 and the Campeonato de España de Parapente Cross Country (XC) in September. After the deaths, the town hall declared two days of official mourning.
