Paraglider crashes near Queenstown

Photo NZ Herald

Two people have been injured in a paraglider crash near Queenstown.

A St John spokesman said emergency services were alerted to the incident on Malaghans Rd, under Coronet Peak about 11am.

It appeared a paraglider carrying a pilot and a paying passenger had crashed on a steep slope.

In a statement, police said two people were ''being extracted'', one with moderate injuries, the other with minor injuries.

Emergency services and a rescue helicopter were called out to the scene. Photo Mandy Cooper

A New Zealand Herald photographer at the scene said the reserve parachute had "definitely deployed".

"So something's happened that he's needed to deploy the reserve parachute,'' he said.

Skytrek Tandem Hang Gliding and Paragliding said the circumstances of the crash were not yet known, and weather conditions were stable at the time of the crash.

''The pilot and passenger have landed on a slope on the side of Coronet Peak. It is approximately half-way between the take-off point at the Coronet Peak car park and the intended landing point at the Flight Park, off Malaghans Rd.

"The pilot and passenger are currently being assessed for injuries, which are believed to be minor to moderate. A rescue helicopter is on standby at the scene.

Skytrek said the Civil Aviation Authority had been informed and the company was co-operating with relevant authorities and local police. The company had temporarily suspended its commercial operations.