Chinese Paraglider Says He Survived Accidental 8,500m Flight in China’s Mountains
A Chinese paraglider has stunned the internet after claiming he was unexpectedly lifted to 8,500 meters (27,800 feet) during a flight over China’s Qilian Mountains—a height approaching the summit of Mount Everest.
Peng Yujiang, 55, was testing new paragliding equipment at approximately 3,000 meters when a rare and powerful “cloud suck” updraft pulled him deep into a towering cloud formation. The experience, he says, left him frozen, disoriented, and close to passing out due to the extreme altitude.
Frozen Mid-Air and Spinning Blindly
In an interview with China Media Group, Peng described the terrifying experience:
“Everything turned white. I had no sense of direction. If it weren’t for my compass, I wouldn’t have known where I was going. I thought I was flying straight—but I was actually spinning.”
A camera mounted to his glider captured the flight, showing Peng’s body encased in ice. The footage has since gone viral on Douyin (China’s TikTok), although its authenticity is under review after NBC raised questions about possible editing. Notably, a logo from an AI company was allegedly removed from the footage.
Life-Threatening Altitude
At 8,500 meters, oxygen levels are dangerously low, and temperatures can plunge to -40°C. Peng believes he may have briefly lost consciousness during his descent, noting he could not control the glider and was lifted uncontrollably higher into the sky.
While many in China have praised Peng’s survival, the flight was unauthorized, and he has been suspended from paragliding for six months, according to state-run Global Times. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Footage Under Scrutiny
The media has not verified the original video, and it has since removed a version it initially shared. Questions are being raised over potential digital manipulation, including the omission of branding elements.
Despite doubts, Peng’s account remains widely circulated across Chinese mediahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxzawk6UWws.
