A Chinese paraglider has made headlines after being unexpectedly lifted to almost 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) in altitude—close to the cruising height of a commercial jet—during what was intended to be a routine ground-level test in northwest China’s Qilian Mountains.
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| Image Source: The New York Times |
Unexpected Updraft Launches Glider into Dangerous Altitude
Peng Yujiang, a 55-year-old experienced paraglider, was performing a basic equipment check at around 3,000 meters above sea level when he was caught in a powerful atmospheric phenomenon known as “cloud suck.” This rare thermal updraft pulled him an estimated 5,000 meters higher into the sky, launching him deep into cloud cover with little visibility.
The harrowing ascent was captured on a GoPro-style camera mounted to his glider, and the footage has since gone viral on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. The video shows Mr. Peng clinging to his controls, his face and body frozen with ice crystals due to sub-zero temperatures at high altitudes.
Peng: “Everything Was White. I Couldn’t Tell Which Way Was Up.”
In a statement to China Media Group, Peng described the terrifying experience:
“It was all white around me. I had no idea where I was going. Without my compass, I would’ve been completely lost. I thought I was flying in a straight line, but I was actually spinning.”
At nearly the same altitude as Mount Everest’s base camp, oxygen is critically low, and temperatures can plunge to -40°C (-40°F). Peng noted that he struggled to descend and may have briefly lost consciousness during the flight.
“I wanted to come down fast, but the wind kept lifting me higher. The most frightening part was trying to regain control as the glider spiraled,” he added.
Unauthorized Flight Leads to Suspension
According to a report by state-run Global Times, Peng's flight was unauthorized. He had no plans to fly that day and was merely adjusting his gear when a sudden gust of wind took him airborne. The situation escalated rapidly as he encountered a powerful vertical thermal current that pulled him into the clouds.
As a result, local authorities have launched an investigation and have temporarily suspended Peng’s paragliding activities for six months.
Survival at Near-Death Altitude: A Rare Paragliding Incident
While paragliders regularly ascend to altitudes of a few thousand meters, reaching nearly 28,000 feet is exceptionally rare and highly dangerous. At those heights, pilots typically require supplemental oxygen and specialized cold-weather gear—neither of which Peng had on this impromptu flight.
This dramatic incident has sparked conversations around aviation safety, weather unpredictability, and the need for regulated paragliding practices, especially in mountainous regions known for extreme weather shifts.
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