Dhi Qar
Paramotor pilot defies odds after near-fatal crash
DHI QAR — Hadi Al-Mousawi, a paramotor pilot from Al-Chibayish district, south of Dhi Qar, has defied the odds by continuing his passion for powered paragliding after a near-fatal crash.
Al-Mousawi told 964media his interest in the sport began a decade ago when he saw foreign pilots flying over the Al-Chibayish marshes.
He later enrolled in paragliding training and purchased his own equipment with help from a friend. He said he bought a paraglider for 800,000 IQD ($532) and a motor for 1.8 million IQD ($1,198).
“My profession is labor work, and I flew for the first time with a paraglider and motor in an open area over the Al-Chibayish marshes. It was a risky experience, and I felt very afraid, but I managed to take off successfully, and after that, it became normal,” he said.
His longest flight covered 4 kilometers at an altitude of 800 meters, and he aims to reach 10 kilometers at 2,000 meters.
Al-Mousawi recalled a dangerous incident when he mistakenly pulled the brakes, causing his parachute cords to tangle midair. “I fell from about 15 meters and suffered injuries, but that experience only motivated me to push forward,” he said.
Now he hopes to upgrade his equipment to a larger motorized glider capable of carrying two people, allowing him to offer aerial tours over the marshes.
