Gliders competing in the 15-meter class at the World Gliding Championships collided Friday and one crashed, but there were no serious injuries. Competition officials said late Friday that Louis Bourderlique, of France, and Peter Hartmann, of Austria, came together about 30 miles from Uvalde, Texas, the base airport for this year's competition. Bourderlique flew his damaged aircraft back to Uvalde while Hartmann bailed out and landed safely by parachute. Bourderlique was uninjured, while Hartmann was picked up by helicopter from his landing site, returned to Uvalde and then taken to hospital for a checkup.
Competition spokesman said more details of the circumstances of the collision will be forthcoming as the various investigations ensue but for now organizers are thrilled that the only casualty was some shattered plastic.
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