Paragliding coach charged with negligence, first-ever prosecution involving Civil Aviation Ordinance

A paragliding coach was handed 200 hours of community service for negligence after one of his students severely fractured her ankle during a lesson in October 2023. The case also marked the first defendant to be prosecuted and convicted under the Civil Aviation Ordinance.

The 49-year-old defendant Yuen Wai-kit, also a former police officer, admitted to negligence resulting in or endangering life using aircraft, making him the first person to be prosecuted under the Ordinance. 

The court heard that Yuen did not explain the take-off, landing, and emergency procedures before his two students took off. He also did not check the gear and safety belt, where the belt came loose within seconds after take off, causing one of his students to fracture her ankle.

The defendant was stripped of his position as a police officer upon prosecution, and his coaching license from the United States Paragliding and Paragliding Association has been suspended.  

Yuen pled that his negligence was unintentional and did not cause life-threatening injuries. He also did not have prevailing criminal records.