Migrant dies trying to reach Spain's Ceuta by paraglider

Paragliding as a route into Ceuta claims another life

Europe's southern border is no longer crossed only by swimming, jumping the fence or hiding in a truck. This Friday, a young sub-Saharan migrant died after falling into the sea off Ceuta while trying to enter the Spanish enclave by paraglider. The Guardia Civil (Spanish Civil Guard) recovered his body at around 08:00 in the northern bay, near Benzú.

A method with precedents

The use of paragliders to enter Ceuta irregularly is not new. On 7 October 2023, a similar attempt was detected in the same area. The difference is that this time the failure was lethal: according to initial indications, the glider went out of control and plunged into the water before it could land near the northern border.

The air route adds a specific difficulty to border control. It is not enough to watch the maritime or land perimeter: the sky must be watched too. And anyone risking their life in such a manoeuvre takes on an added danger, because a fall into the sea, with no life jacket and no safety net, rarely leaves any options.

The debate has ranged between condemnation of the event, analysis of the precedents and macabre mockery. Some argue the solution lies in tightening surveillance of these new routes; others point out that the underlying problem remains the same: why people go to such extremes to enter Europe. What nobody disputes is that an attempt to cross has ended in death.

If the trend continues, it will not be the last case. The question is whether the security apparatus is prepared for a border that is also crossed by air, and at what cost.