Latest news with #LiuGe
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Visual errors in China paragliding accident clip suggest AI use
"Yesterday, a paraglider named Liu Ge set a new world record for the altitude of a conscious human flight in the #Qilian Mountains," reads a Douyin post on May 25, 2025 written in simplified Chinese, referring to the cluster of peaks in northern China. Footage in the post supposedly shows three clips from the accident -- an aerial view of the man followed by a closer angle apparently from a sports camera and finally visuals of the paraglider covered with ice and flying over clouds. Similar visuals surfaced on X and Facebook after Chinese media reported a paraglider named Peng Yujiang was carried away by a sudden updraft to an altitude of over 8,500 kilometres (5,200 miles) while training in the Qilian Mountains in Gansu Province on May 24. Peng lost consciousness for a short time before he regained awareness and operated the paraglider back to the ground, according to an article from state-run broadcaster CCTV (archived link). According to an incident report issued by the Gansu Province Aviation Sports Association, Peng was banned from flying for six months although authorities said his ground training did not require prior approval (archived link). Multiple paragliding experts told AFP there have been previous cases of paragliders being carried up to dangerous heights. "It is possible to get carried up to extreme altitudes, but it also happens to be very easily avoidable. This can only happen in cumulonimbus clouds, aka thunderstorms," said Emil Kaminski, safety officer at the Hong Kong Paragliding Association. "Pilots who have been lifted to such dangerous heights have either intentionally flown into them OR inadvertently flown into them because not paying attention to weather OR due to poor training, poor understanding of the weather." "This is very rare (to be accidentally carried to such an altitude) but it is possible," Geoff Davison, a paragliding instructor at Fly Koh Larn in Thailand, separately said. However, the circulating footage is not an accurate depiction of the incident. A reverse image search using a keyframe found the first five seconds in the compilation matches a clip posted May 26 on Facebook that bears the watermark of Doubao AI, a ChatGPT-like conversational bot created by TikTok owner ByteDance (archived link). The subsequent clips have inconsistent visuals, an AFP analysis found. The colour of the paraglider's helmet and the straps of the equipment are initially white but inexplicably turn black. The man's legs are also depicted hanging out of the paraglider at first but is later shown as covered by an insulating cocoon. Despite the meteoric progress in Generative AI, errors still show up in AI-generated content. These defects are the best way to recognise a fabricated image. Multiple news organisations including Reuters, NBC News and ABC News said they took down footage of the incident from CCTV after they found signs of AI (archived here, here and here).
AFP
09-06-2025
- Climate
- AFP
Visual errors in China paragliding accident clip suggest AI use
"Yesterday, a paraglider named Liu Ge set a new world record for the altitude of a conscious human flight in the #Qilian Mountains," reads a post on May 25, 2025 written in simplified Chinese, referring to the cluster of peaks in northern China. Footage in the post supposedly shows three clips from the accident -- an aerial view of the man followed by a closer angle apparently from a sports camera and finally visuals of the paraglider covered with ice and flying over clouds. Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on June 4, 2025 Similar visuals surfaced on X and Facebook after Chinese media reported a paraglider named Peng Yujiang was carried away by a sudden updraft to an altitude of over 8,500 kilometres (5,200 miles) while training in the Qilian Mountains in Gansu Province on May 24. Peng lost consciousness for a short time before he regained awareness and operated the paraglider back to the ground, according to an article from state-run broadcaster CCTV (archived link). According to an incident report issued by the Gansu Province Aviation Sports Association, Peng was banned from flying for six months although authorities said his ground training did not require prior approval (archived link). Multiple paragliding experts told AFP there have been previous cases of paragliders being carried up to dangerous heights. "It is possible to get carried up to extreme altitudes, but it also happens to be very easily avoidable. This can only happen in cumulonimbus clouds, aka thunderstorms," said Emil Kaminski, safety officer at the Hong Kong Paragliding Association. "Pilots who have been lifted to such dangerous heights have either intentionally flown into them OR inadvertently flown into them because not paying attention to weather OR due to poor training, poor understanding of the weather." "This is very rare (to be accidentally carried to such an altitude) but it is possible," Geoff Davison, a paragliding instructor at Fly Koh Larn in Thailand, separately said. However, the circulating footage is not an accurate depiction of the incident. A reverse image search using a keyframe found the first five seconds in the compilation matches a clip posted May 26 on Facebook that bears the watermark of The subsequent clips have inconsistent visuals, an AFP analysis found. The colour of the paraglider's helmet and the straps of the equipment are initially white but inexplicably turn black. The man's legs are also depicted hanging out of the paraglider at first but is later shown as covered by an insulating cocoon. Image Screenshots showing the visual inconsistencies between the clips Multiple news organisations including Reuters, NBC News and they took down footage of the incident from CCTV after they found signs of AI (archived here, here and here).
India.com
28-05-2025
- Climate
- India.com
Chinese Paragliders Terrifying Ordeal: Sucked 5 Miles Into Sky By Vortex, Stranded In -40°C Freeze...
A Chinese paraglider narrowly escaped death after being sucked nearly five miles into the sky by a powerful cloud vortex while flying above the Qilian Shan mountains in northern China. The dramatic incident, which occurred on Saturday, has prompted an official investigation. Liu Ge, the paraglider involved, recounted being abruptly lifted into the atmosphere to an altitude of approximately 26,400 feet — nearly double the height legally permitted under Chinese aviation regulations. The incident, known as "cloud suction," occurred shortly after he launched from a mountain 9,850 feet above sea level. Trapped in extreme conditions, Liu said he was exposed to temperatures as low as -40°F and experienced severe oxygen deprivation. "I had trouble breathing, my hands were freezing, and I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time," he told local media. Without an oxygen mask, Liu said he clung to his harness, enduring intense frostbite until he managed a safe landing. On May 24th, Chinese paragliding enthusiast Peng Yujiang took off from a launch point at approximately 3,000 meters in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu Province. He was then sucked into a cumulonimbus cloud, which carried him to an altitude of 8,589 meters. At this height, the… — China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) May 27, 2025 Footage of the incident, now circulating widely on social media, shows Liu's face and clothing coated in ice. Experts said survival at such altitudes is rare. "Even at 6,500 feet, cold-weather gear is essential. At over 26,000 feet, it's life-threatening," said Ou, an experienced paraglider, speaking to the Global Times. Authorities have launched a probe into the incident, noting that Liu did not have air traffic control clearance for his flight — a violation of China's national aviation sports regulations. Under current rules, paragliding is prohibited above 16,405 feet, even with a valid license. Officials are now reviewing whether Liu's unsanctioned flight breached safety protocols and endangered restricted airspace.
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Chinese Paraglider's Narrow Escape From Cloud Vortex At 26,400 Feet
New Delhi: A Chinese paraglider narrowly escaped death after being sucked into a cloud vortex. He was pulled high into the sky and ended up stuck about 26,400 ft above the ground. Describing the incident, Liu Ge said he was trapped in freezing temperatures of around -40 degrees Fahrenheit when he was flying above the Qilian Shan mountains in northern China on Saturday. He claimed he was pulled upward into the sky, known as cloud suction, shortly after he jumped off a mountain, which was about 9,850 ft above sea level, The NY Post reported. NEW: Chinese paraglider nearly froze to de*th after being pulled 5 miles up into an icy cloud vortex Liu Ge was paragliding over the Qilian Mountains in northern China when he lost control "I felt oxygen deficiency and my hands were freezing... But I kept communicating via the… — Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) May 27, 2025 Due to oxygen deficiency, Liu said he had trouble breathing and his hands were freezing cold. "I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time," he added. Liu told that he didn't have an oxygen mask and his face and clothes were covered in ice. Reports said he was sucked to high altitudes and hung on tightly to his harness. He also claimed that due to the freezing temperatures, he got severe frostbite. Liu further said he stayed conscious all the time and managed to land safely. An experienced paraglider, surnamed Ou, told Global Times that not many can survive such high altitude. He said people bring cold-weather gear even when they go paragliding at about 6,500 ft high. So, at 28,000 ft, the temperature gets really cold, which makes it difficult to breathe. According to the news outlet, authorities have launched an investigation because air traffic authorities hadn't approved his flight plan after he failed to file the necessary paperwork. Chinese national aviation sports regulations state that even if a paraglider has a valid license, they are supposed to obtain prior airspace approval from air traffic control. Paragliding flights are banned above 16,405 ft under Chinese regulations.
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Paraglider almost freezes to death after being sucked 29,000ft into clouds
Liu Ge is an experienced paraglider but he got into difficulty while flying over the Qilian Mountains in northern China when 'cloud suck' led to him losing control A paraglider was left covered in ice after nearly freezing to death when he was blown nearly 20,000 feet higher into the sky. Liu Ge took off from a mountain spot around 9,850 feet above sea level but he lost control of his glider when it was lifted up and continued to go higher and higher up to 28,210 feet. Cloud suck is a phenomenon where paragliders, hang gliders, and sailplane gliders experience a significant lift caused by the thermals under the base of cumulus clouds. Liu, a seasoned paraglider, found himself being sucked up while flying over the Qilian Mountains in northern China. Regulations in the country restrict flights to below 16,405 feet and 9,850 feet is considered an impressive altitude but he went a lot higher. Footage showed Liu stranded high in the air while covered in ice on Saturday (24 May), as reported by What's The Jam. He didn't have an oxygen mask on and his face was exposed to the freezing cold air. But he managed to remain conscious throughout the chilling experience and eventually regained control of the paraglider. Liu was then able to make a safe landing. He said afterwards: 'I felt oxygen deficiency and my hands were freezing. But I kept communicating via the intercom.' Liu said temperatures can plunge to around -40 degrees Celsius at altitudes of over 28,000 feet. Oxygen levels are also dangerously low. Liu, who holds a paragliding license, is recovering from his ordeal in hospital. He reportedly failed to register his flight on the day in question. As the air traffic authorities did not approve the flight, including the take-off site, a police investigation is now underway. Meanwhile, paraglider Mark Allison earlier this month captured the hilarious moment police nearly spoiled his fun as he soared into the skies to catch a glimpse of the sunset. His TikTok video, which boasts an impressive three million views in three days after he shared it, showed his encounter with the the boys in blue after touching down in a field. "Has someone complained about me?" he queried, as police cars rolled up shortly after his landing. Mark reassured the two police officers who came over: "I've just landed, but I'm going to go up again in a minute and have a look at the sunset - the farmer lets me use it so it's all good." The officers soon appeared impressed, however, and proceeded to learn more about his airborne hobby. One enquired: "How high did you get in that?" to which Mark responded: "I get to 10,000 feet, but you're not supposed to stay there for too long as you get a headache... and it's cold... it's about minus 20C up there."
