Felix Baumgartner, best known as “Fearless Felix,” sadly died in July at 56. Investigators have concluded that his paragliding accident was human error. Baumgartner became an instant celebrity in 2012 when he set a benchmark by breaking the sound barrier during his breathtaking jump. His incredible accomplishments now inspire millions of thrill-seekers worldwide every single day.
On October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner broke a world record and nearly everyone’s heart. He jumped from a capsule that suspended over 24 miles of altitude over New Mexico, supported by a large helium balloon. In a constricting, pressurized suit he flew to a record speed of 843.6 mph. That’s 1.25 times the speed of sound over the course of his white-knuckle nine-minute pedestal! His record-breaking accomplishment ensured his place as a trailblazer in the world of extreme sports.
Baumgartner’s career consisted of thousands of jumps from planes, bridges, skyscrapers, and other landmarks around the world. He always rejected the label of thrill-seeker or adrenaline junkie. Rather than being cavalier with the plan, he argued for a detailed and careful jump plan and warm up.
“I hate it if someone calls me a thrillseeker or an adrenaline junkie because I am not. I like the whole planning.” – Felix Baumgartner
Wonderful planning yielded to a tragic accident on one paragliding flight. Witnesses reported that Baumgartner’s paraglider appeared okay for a moment before violently going into a death spiral and crashing directly to the ground. He entered a potentially dangerous flat spin while still supersonic, spinning for an alarming 13 seconds before crashing near a hotel swimming pool.
After the incident, prosecutor Raffaele Iannella announced that an investigation found that there were no mechanical failures with Baumgartner’s motorized paraglider. That investigation had concluded that human error was the primary reason for the crash. This tragic conclusion was the sad end of a man who had gone farther than any human had ever gone.
Though he had little qualms pushing the boundaries of skydiving and paragliding, Baumgartner was quick to discuss the humbling reality of his respective experiences. In looking back at his historic leap, he displayed a humility and appreciation for the odds he overcame.
“When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble.” – Felix Baumgartner
For Baumgartner, his path to space began as a parachutist in the Austrian military. He went on to become a worldwide icon of extreme sports bravery and invention. We’ll miss his great contributions to the sport of skydiving and the adventurous spirit he encouraged in all athletes and aspiring athletes.