The case against a tandem paragliding pilot accused of causing the death of his passenger by not carrying out required safety checks resumed last week.

On 1st September 27-year-old Caner Güler, a mechanical engineer on holiday from Bursa, took off on a tandem paraglide from the top of Babadağ mountain near Fethiye.

His wife, 26-year-old Miray, had taken off minutes earlier for the popular 30 minute flight to the Oludeniz beach some 1,800 metres below.

Shortly after the launch, Caner Güler fell from his harness and died on the rocks some 700m below.

His pilot Murat Yeşilbaçar, was reported as being arrested on landing and taken away by Jandarma for questioning.

There were claims at the time that Güler's harness wasn't properly attached.

Yeşilbaçar, a paragliding pilot with ten years experience, appreared at an initial court hearing a week later.

At that hearing Yeşilbaçar the pilot claimed that he and Güler had gone through the routine stringent safety checks on the mountain prior to launch.

Yeşilbaçar has ten years experience as a tandem pilot and claimed Güler opened the harness himself, possibly by accident, after which he tried to hold on to his passenger but failed to do so, and Güler fell to his death.

Yeşilbaçar went on to say that as soon as he landed he ran to report the accident to the Jandarma and point the rescuers in the right direction.

The trial resumed briefly last week but was quickly adjourned for reports and will continue on 9th December.

Caner's widow Miray was in court and afterwards told reporters:

“I am here to see justice for my husband. I cannot say much at this point just that I want to see the responsible person punished.”

Paragliding Popular

Oludeniz is famed for its spectacular paragliding with the famous mountain to beach flight. It also hosts an annual Air Fest at the end of October each year.

From 1st January to 1st September 2010 almost 20,000 jumps took place and that figures was expected to he higher in 2011.