Tenerife Paragliding Death Sparks Safety Probe into Adventure Tourism Standards
Authorities are investigating the death of a 28-year-old woman in a Tenerife paragliding accident, sparking urgent calls for stricter safety oversight following a series of fatal incidents in the region.
Safety standards for adventure tourism in the Canary Islands are under renewed scrutiny following the death of 28-year-old Italian resident Cristina Colturi. She passed away on March 6 after a tandem paragliding accident in Adeje, Tenerife. The crash occurred during the landing approach near La Enramada beach; Colturi died three days later, while the pilot sustained moderate injuries.
The National Police are currently investigating the incident. Their inquiry is looking into potential technical failures—specifically a suspected issue with the harness-to-wing attachment—and verifying the legality of the flight. Authorities are checking whether the pilot held the necessary federation license and if the company maintained the required civil liability and health insurance for commercial operations.
This tragedy is part of a concerning pattern in Adeje, which has seen eleven serious accidents and three fatalities over the past year. These recurring incidents have raised alarms about the regulation and oversight of companies operating from the Taucho launch site, a major hub for paragliding in the region.
Colturi, a tourism professional specializing in color analysis, was a well-regarded member of her community, and her death has been deeply felt both locally and in Italy. As the investigation continues, the adventure tourism industry in Tenerife is facing urgent calls to review its safety protocols to ensure that these popular activities do not continue to result in preventable tragedies.