Posted on 05/29/2025 11:16:38 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A Chinese paraglider has survived being accidentally propelled 8,500m (27,800ft) into the sky above north-west China, state media report.
Peng Yujiang, 55, was testing new equipment at 3,000m above sea level, over the Qilian mountains, when a rare updraft or air current known as a "cloud suck" pulled him about 5,000m higher into a cloud formation.
Saturday's events were filmed on a camera that was mounted on Mr Peng's glider and the footage has gone viral after being posted on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.
It showed Mr Peng holding on to the glider's controls, with his face and much of his body covered in ice crystals.
Mr Peng narrowly survived death as oxygen is thin at that altitude - slightly lower than the 8,849m peak of Mount Everest. Temperatures can also fall to -40C.
Mr Peng, who has been paragliding for four and a half years, said he might have lost consciousness during his descent.
He added that the most frightening part of his ordeal was trying to regain control of the glider as it spiralled in the air.
Chinese authorities are investigating the incident and Mr Peng has been suspended for six months because the flight was unauthorised, state-run Global Times reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Lucky he didn’t end up face planting the windshield of a passing 767.
As a pilot, I can say...that was no accident. It was careless stupidity and may have even been intentional. Those cumulus puffy clouds look very pretty and alluring like they may be fun to venture into. What goes on inside of them frequently will tear the wings right off your airplane.
4.97 miles high. Close enough for government work.
Too bad he didn’t have a sexy zip up suit like Katie Perry and friends.
ya butt...did he do it in a lawn chair, duct tape and balloons with a BB pistol ?
Used to skydive with a lot of ex-military & they would talk about jumping through storm clouds and getting hung up in them only to get pulled well off their intended landing zone.
“A man can’t just sit around!”
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