In brief
55-year-old Peng Yujiang's unforeseen plunge into the skies raises safety concerns and sparks an investigation.
A Chinese paraglider narrowly escaped a life-threatening adventure when he was unexpectedly jerked up 8,500m (27,800ft) into the sky over the Qilian mountains in north-west China. Peng Yujiang, 55, was merely testing his equipment at an altitude of 3,000m when he encountered a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as "cloud suck," propelling him higher into a dense cloud cover.The remarkable incident was captured on camera mounted on Mr. Peng's glider and posted on Douyin, China's equivalent of TikTok, where the footage quickly gained widespread attention. In the video, viewers can see Mr. Peng gripping the controls of his glider while ice crystals encrust his face and clothing. Reflecting on the terrifying experience, he shared with China Media Group, "It was terrifying... 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."At an altitude just shy of Mount Everest's peak, Mr. Peng faced significantly low oxygen levels, where temperatures can plunge as low as -40°C. He recounted his desperation during the steep ascent, stating, "I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud." He added that he might have lost consciousness mid-descent, emphasizing the fear he experienced while attempting to regain control over his glider amid the chaotic spirals.Chinese authorities are probing the incident, and as a result, Mr. Peng has been suspended from paragliding for six months due to the unauthorized nature of the flight, as reported by the state-run Global Times. Despite being grounded on the day of the incident, strong winds unexpectedly lifted him off the ground before pushing him into the alarming updraft that shot him skyward.
