A paragliding incident in China has caught significant attention after a pilot experienced a terrifying ordeal at high altitude. Mr. Peng, who has been paragliding for over four years, found himself in a life-threatening situation when he was unexpectedly lifted into a dense cloud while flying.
In an interview with China Media Group, Mr. Peng described the experience as "terrifying." He recalled how everything around him turned white, making it impossible to see where he was going. "Without the compass, I wouldn’t have known which way I was going," he said. Despite thinking he was flying straight, he realized he was actually spinning in the air.
The flight took place at an altitude just below the peak of Mount Everest, where oxygen levels are low and temperatures can drop to -40 degrees Celsius. Mr. Peng expressed his struggle to descend quickly, stating that he was lifted higher and higher into the cloud. He also mentioned that he might have lost consciousness during his descent, which added to the danger of the situation.
Following the incident, which was widely reported in Chinese media, Mr. Peng has been suspended from paragliding for six months due to the flight being unauthorized. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the event.
While NBC reported that the logo of the artificial intelligence company involved in the incident was cropped out of the footage, the BBC has not been able to verify the video independently. This situation raises questions about safety regulations and oversight in extreme sports like paragliding, especially at such high altitudes.