Canadian Paraglider Dies in Dhauladhar Mountains
Canadian paraglider Megan died in a crash in Bir-Billing after wind changes led her off route. The incident has raised important questions about paragliding safety in high-risk areas.
Megan Elizabeth Roberts, a 27-year-old Canadian paraglider, was an experienced solo pilot who had been flying in Bir-Billing, Himachal Pradesh, for at least four years. On 18th October 2025, she took off solo from the Bir-Billing paragliding site at 9:45 AM. She was expected to land at Chogan but lost her route due to sudden wind changes and crashed near Talan Jot, north of Himani Chamunda temple, at an altitude of about 3,900 meters. Even though she deployed her reserve parachute, she suffered fatal head injuries after hitting the rocky surface.
A massive search and rescue operation was launched, involving the Indian Institute of Mountaineering, Dehradun, the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), local climbers and volunteers. Helicopters were sent and rescuers battled freezing temperatures and rough mountain terrain. After two days of continuous effort, Megan’s body was found on 20th October 2025.
Her body was airlifted to Kangra for postmortem and later cremated in Bir on 21st October 2025, as per her wishes. Her partner, Jared, agreed to the cremation, which was carried out with Hindu rituals.
The incident has deeply affected the paragliding community. Many people shared emotional tributes online, remembering Megan’s adventurous spirit and love for flying. The tragedy has also started a serious discussion about solo flights and safety rules in difficult mountain locations. There are growing calls for stricter safety measures, better planning and stronger training for paragliders in such risky zones.
