Detectives investigating glider death of 19-year-old as likely suicide

Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 19-year-old youth who jumped from a glider in Kladno on Sunday during a training flight. Contrary to initial reports, which spoke of a panic attack, the police have opened criminal proceedings on suspicion of involvement in suicide. The young man jumped out of the glider shortly after the tow plane had disconnected at an altitude of about three hundred metres. His parachute reportedly failed to open. His body was recovered by an emergency crew an hour later. An investigation revealed that he had flown on numerous occasions before the incident and never showed any sign of fear. A post-mortem has been ordered to ascertain whether he had been drinking alcohol or using drugs ahead of the flight.