Chinese paraglider soars to 8,000m in accidental flight, faces six-month ban VIDEO

A Chinese paraglider has been banned from flying for six months after being accidentally lifted more than 8,000 metres into the air by a powerful updraft — an altitude approaching that of Mount Everest — during a practice session in the Qilian mountain range.

The incident involved Peng Yujiang, an experienced paraglider with five years of flying experience, who had intended only to test second-hand equipment at an elevation of about 3,000 metres. However, roughly 20 minutes into his session, a sudden and intense thermal current carried him over 5,000 metres higher, placing him within commercial flight altitudes and exposing him to extreme conditions, Caliber.Az report per foreign media.

Video footage from Peng’s helmet camera, later posted on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), showed him surrounded by clouds and covered in icicles as temperatures plummeted to -35°C. In a video recorded after he landed, Peng recalled struggling to communicate over radio and losing feeling in his hands due to frostbite. He remained airborne for over an hour, at one point becoming disoriented and briefly losing consciousness.

The Gansu Provincial Aviation Sports Association launched an investigation, concluding that although the incident was accidental, Peng had not submitted a flight plan or received proper approval. As a result, officials imposed a six-month ban on his flying activities, citing regulatory violations.

Authorities praised Peng’s survival, conceding it was an accident. A “normal person cannot be exposed at 8,000m without oxygen [so] this is not something that can be done voluntarily” said a sports bureau official, according to Sixth Tone.

Peng eventually landed safely approximately 30 kilometres from his launch point, where he was met by his friend Gu Zhimin, who had maintained radio contact throughout the ordeal. Gu later uploaded the video online, where it quickly went viral, garnering both awe and concern from viewers.

However, authorities criticised the unapproved dissemination of the footage, claiming it had a "negative impact." Gu has also been banned from flying for six months and was required to submit a written reflection on his actions.

While Peng’s flight neared the world paragliding altitude record of 9,946 metres set by German pilot Ewa Wiśnierska in 2007, Chinese officials confirmed that his altitude achievement would not be officially recognised due to the lack of registration and approval.

By Sabina Mammadli