Unintentional Ascent: Paraglider's Harrowing 8,500m Flight in China

Peng Yujiang, a seasoned paraglider, found himself in a life-threatening situation when an unplanned updraft propelled his glider to 8,500 meters, where he faced chilling temperatures and low oxygen. Despite the danger, he survived to recount his ordeal, although he has since been suspended for the unauthorized flight.

A Chinese paraglider has remarkably managed to survive an accidental ascent to an altitude of 8,500 meters (27,800 feet) over north-west China, according to state media reports. The incident involved 55-year-old Peng Yujiang, who was initially testing new equipment at a safe height of 3,000 meters above sea level, situated near the Qilian mountains.

During his test flight, a rare atmospheric phenomenon, described as a "cloud suck," unexpectedly lifted him an additional 5,000 meters, thrusting him into thick cloud cover. The entire ordeal was captured on camera mounted to his glider, and the footage quickly gained traction on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok.

Describing his experience, Mr. Peng remarked on the sheer terror he faced as visibility diminished completely in the cloud-covered sky. "Everything was white. I couldn't see any direction. Without the compass, I wouldn't have known which way I was going. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning," he shared with reporters from China Media Group.

At a height slightly lower than Mount Everest’s peak, Mr. Peng faced critically low oxygen levels and extreme cold, with temperatures plummeting to an astonishing -40 degrees Celsius. "I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud. It was terrifying," he disclosed.

With four-and-a-half years of paragliding experience, Mr. Peng hinted that he might have lost consciousness during his turbulent descent. He described the most frightening segment of this near-fatal experience as his effort to regain control of the spiraling glider.

In the aftermath of this harrowing flight, Chinese authorities commenced an investigation into the incident, leading to Mr. Peng's six-month suspension due to the unauthorized nature of the flight, as reported by the state-run Global Times. Initially, he had not intended to take to the skies that day, merely testing the fit and comfort of his parachute on solid ground. However, strong winds unexpectedly lifted him off, escalating into a powerful updraft that launched him well above the clouds.