Chinese paraglider's death-defying thundercloud video may partly be fake

A viral video of a Chinese paraglider claiming he was swept up into a thundercloud and dragged 8km into the sky could partly be fake.
Peng Yujiang, 55, a certified B-level paraglider, claimed in the video that he had a narrow escape after reaching an altitude of 8,598m without oxygen. The video was aired across China and distributed internationally by state broadcaster CCTV, and it quickly went viral.
The video supposedly showed a sudden surge of wind pulling up and trapping Mr Peng into a rapidly forming cumulonimbus cloud, leaving him to face icy conditions with his face exposed and without oxygen. The paraglider said that he suspected he briefly lost consciousness during his eventual descent.
But experts who examined the video, first shared on Douyin, China's TikTok, on 24 May, said it likely employed artificial intelligence to fake some of the footage, Reuters reported.
The first five seconds of Mr Peng's video contained images generated by AI, American digital security firm GetReal said, adding that it was 'fairly confident' about its findings.
GetReal as well as other paragliders noted that the video showed Mr Peng's legs initially dangling without the insulating cocoon shown later. In another concrete inconsistency, the paraglider's helmet appeared white and then black.
'Nobody intentionally lets themselves be sucked into a thunderstorm cloud in an attempt to break a record, it is something that any sane paragliding pilot tries to avoid at all costs," said Jakub Havel, a Czech paraglider who runs XContest, a popular website for paragliders.
Mr Peng's flight should not be considered a record, he said, pointing out that the Chinese paraglider had recorded and then deleted his flight log on XContest while his other flights remained on the site.
At least four paragliders interviewed by Reuters challenged Mr Peng's claim that the flight had been an unavoidable accident.
The experts, however, said it was possible that the paraglider actually went up to an altitude of 8,589m and survived.
Pilots said there were reasons to question Mr Peng's flight as a fluke accident, saying he was either trying to make an unauthorised high ascent or should have seen the risk.
Storm clouds like the one Mr Peng flew in 'don't just appear above your head and hoover you into space' and 'build over a period of time", Daniel Wainwright, a flight instructor in Australia, told Reuters. 'He shouldn't have been flying.'
The record for a planned flight is held by French pilot Antoine Girard, who flew at an altitude of 8,407m over a stretch of the Himalayas in 2021.
Brad Harris, president of the Tasmanian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, said the specialised heavy mittens shown in the video seemed to undercut Peng's claim he had not intended to take off.
He believed Mr Peng could have made up the accidental take-off to avoid sanction for entering restricted airspace.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Upturn

24 minutes ago

• Business Upturn

SRC to Deliver Counter-UAS Technologies to Qatar as Part of Landmark $1B Agreement with U.S.

Syracuse, NY, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Syracuse, NY – SRC, Inc. ('SRC' or 'Company'), a not-for-profit defense research and development company, announced today that it will deliver a suite of its advanced counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) technologies to international buyers as a part of a historic $1 billion foreign military sales agreement between the U.S. government and the State of Qatar. This milestone marks the first international sale of the U.S. Army's Fixed Site–Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System (LIDS), underscoring SRC's role as a global leader in the defense against UAS threats. SRC's LIDS technologies are engineered to detect, track, identify and defeat unmanned aircraft systems, which are a growing threat in modern conflict zones. Under this agreement, SRC will deliver mission-critical technologies that enable detection and robust electronic warfare capabilities to international buyers for the first time. These technologies allow for layered defense at fixed-site locations and provide real-time situational awareness and threat response. The inclusion of LIDS in the agreement highlights the urgency with which nations are addressing the rising threat of unmanned systems to critical infrastructure and defense operations. 'We're proud that our proven systems will be deployed internationally to secure critical airspace, defend warfighters and protect high-value infrastructure,' said Kevin Hair, president and CEO of SRC. 'In today's rapidly evolving threat landscape, advanced sensing and electronic warfare capabilities are essential. This achievement reflects the strength of the LIDS team, the trust placed in us by our government partners and the operational relevance of American-engineered solutions.' LIDS supports the rapid detection and engagement of unmanned aircraft, while maintaining low collateral damage to minimize risk to friendly forces and surrounding infrastructure. As a system of systems, LIDS allows for the swift integration of emerging sensors and effectors, ensuring the system can adapt to evolving threats and remain effective across future mission sets. Its modular design supports deployment in both fixed and mobile configurations, offering tactical commanders the flexibility to address a wide range of operational scenarios. As a trusted provider of critical sensing and electronic warfare components, SRC is proud to support the continued advancement and international deployment of lifesaving technologies that empower our warfighters and strengthen global defense readiness. About SRC SRC, Inc. (@SRCDefense), a not-for-profit research and development company, combines information, science, technology and ingenuity to solve 'impossible' problems in the areas of defense, environment and intelligence. Across a family of companies, SRC applies bright minds, fresh thinking and relentless determination to deliver innovative products and services that are redefining possible ® for the challenges faced by America and its allies. Since 1957, SRC's commitment to the customer and the best solution — not the bottom line — has remained a core value that guides its efforts. This passion for quality carries through to the technologies the company invents and manufactures, the laboratories and facilities it builds, the people they hire, and communities where they work. Today, more than 1,400 engineers, scientists and professionals work together at SRC to protect people, the environment and our way of life. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Fox Sports

30 minutes ago

• Fox Sports

Jets owner Woody Johnson buys 43% stake in English soccer club Crystal Palace

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is finally set to get his hands on an English soccer team. Premier League side Crystal Palace announced on Monday that Johnson has signed 'a legally binding contract' to buy the shares of fellow American John Textor, who has a 43% stake in the London club. Reports have placed the price between $220 million and $260 million. 'Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women's Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club,' Palace said in a statement. 'We would like to go on record to thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future.' Johnson submitted a bid to buy Chelsea in 2022 but was unsuccessful. The sale of Textor's shares boosts Palace's hopes of playing in the Europa League next season, having qualified thanks to its FA Cup final victory over Manchester City last month. Textor is also a shareholder in French side Lyon, which is set to enter the same competition, and under UEFA multi-club ownership rules, it looked as if Palace could miss out. ___ AP soccer:

NBC Sports

32 minutes ago

• NBC Sports

Katie Kubiak breaks world records in four events at U.S. Para Swimming Championships

Katie Kubiak broke world records in the S4 classification in the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle at the U.S. Paralympics Swimming Championships that ended Sunday in Boise, Idaho. Kubiak, coming off her junior year at New York University, capped the meet by clocking 2:44.97 in the 200m free, which was 6.56 seconds faster than the old world record set by German Tanja Scholz in 2022. Kubiak previously swam 36.44 in the 50m free (previous record: 36.92), 39.66 in the 50m fly (previous record: 40.22) and 1:32.72 in the 100m back (previous record: 1:43.91). 'My coach and I wanted to show up and put up the best times we absolutely could, and to have the time drops that we saw in my 50s and the consistency in my 100m and 200m freestyle today were really the cherry on top,' Kubiak said Sunday, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. 'I think the most impactful race this weekend was the 50m fly because breaking 40 seconds was a marker that I came into this meet with, so to be able to break it twice (prelims and final) was huge.' Kubiak, who has late-onset congenital myopathy, swam at the youth level until 2018, when she had spinal surgery. She returned to swimming in 2023 and took part in her first Para swim meet in 2024, according to the USOPC. In that first meet, she broke five American records. In December 2024, she won five titles at the national championships. Then in April, Kubiak swam at an international meet for the first time — a Para World Series stop in Indianapolis — and broke S4 world records in the 150m individual medley and 100m free. The team for September's World Championships in Singapore was announced in May. It includes Kubiak and is led by 18-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long. Nick Zaccardi,