Felix Baumgartner, Who Jumped from Space, Dies in Paragliding Crash
Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian skydiver who broke the sound barrier during free fall, died in a motorized paragliding crash in Italy on July 17. He was 56.
While flying over Porto Sant’Elpidio, Baumgartner reportedly experienced a sudden illness that caused him to lose control of his paraglider. Witnesses described hearing a loud boom before the aircraft crashed near a hotel swimming pool. The impact killed him instantly. Debris from the crash injured a hotel employee, though no other serious injuries were reported.
Baumgartner became a global figure in 2012 when he jumped from a capsule about 24 miles above Earth. During that historic Red Bull Stratos mission, he reached a speed of roughly 843 miles per hour, making him the first person to break the sound barrier without a vehicle.
Over the years, Baumgartner continued to push the limits of extreme sports. He set records with BASE jumps from skyscrapers and cliffs and flew custom-built wings across long distances. His bold achievements inspired many in the aviation and adventure communities.
- Date of death: July 17, 2025
- Location: Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy
- Cause: suspected midair medical emergency followed by crash
- Most famous for: 2012 jump from the stratosphere at Mach 1.25
- Injuries: one hotel worker was injured by falling debris
Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella praised him, saying, “He was a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight.”
Baumgartner’s death marks the end of a daring career filled with record-breaking flights and fearless feats.
More…
- https://www.reuters.com/en/pioneering-skydiver-felix-baumgartner-dies-while-paragliding-italy-2025-07-17/
- https://apnews.com/article/felix-baumgartner-dies-world-record-skydiver-ebbc63d04a4c88e42d847cfbf93a7a00
- https://www.bild.de/news/paragliding-unfall-in-italien-extremsportler-felix-baumgartner-ist-tot-687934483e67c8722e9b38aa
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