Paramotor Hits Power Cable, Drops 30 Metres Into Paddy Field During Melaka Cultural Run
MELAKA, Malaysia — A paramotor pilot fell roughly 30 metres into a paddy field after the aircraft struck an overhead Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) power cable during an event in Bukit Baru, Melaka, according to police and multiple reports.
The incident happened around 8:40 a.m. near Kampung Ku Sayang, Bukit Baru, in conjunction with the Duyong International Cultural Run 2025 held near Stadium Tun Fatimah. Melaka Tengah district police chief ACP Christopher Patit said the fall is believed to have occurred after the paramotor experienced a technical issue mid-flight.
Pilot suffers minor injuries; public not harmed
Police said the pilot suffered minor facial injuries, while the paramotor sustained only minor damage. Authorities also stated that no bystanders were injured, despite the incident occurring near a public event area.
Reports said four paramotors from a Selangor-based club had attended the program as part of the extreme sports attraction at the cultural run.
Video goes viral online
Short video clips of the incident have circulated widely on social media, appearing to show the paramotor flying low over the paddy field area before colliding with cables and dropping into the rice field. Multiple posts describe the pilot as surviving without serious injuries, and show bystanders reacting to the sudden crash.
TNB inspected the cable
According to Bernama-based reporting carried by multiple news outlets, a TNB team later inspected the line involved and found no damage to the electrical cable.
Verification: Incident confirmed by Malaysian media
Malaysia’s The Star also published a fact-check style report confirming the paramotor did collide with the TNB cable and plunge into the paddy field during the event.
Why this matters for paramotor safety
Paramotor pilots and instructors consistently emphasize that power lines are among the hardest obstacles to see from the air, especially during low passes, haze, or flat-light conditions. Events near public venues typically require strict safety planning, including conservative altitude limits and route separation from infrastructure.
No official investigation findings beyond the initial police statement have been publicly detailed at this time, and the precise mechanical issue (if any) has not been fully explained in public reporting.
