A Chinese paraglider cheated death after being sucked into a rare weather phenomenon called cloud suck during a flight over the Qilian Mountains. The pilot soared to 8,598 meters – higher than Mount Everest – without oxygen gear, surviving freezing temps and ice-covered gear ❄️.
Why Cloud Suck Is a Pilot’s Nightmare
Aviation expert Wang Yanan explained to China Media Group that cumulonimbus clouds create violent updrafts capable of lifting paragliders like elevators. 💨 "These currents can cause hypoxia, extreme cold, or lightning exposure," Wang said. "At cruising altitudes, it’s like playing Russian roulette with the sky."
Near-Miss With Airliner Altitudes 🚨
At 8,000+ meters, paragliders enter airspace shared with commercial jets. Beihang University’s Zhao Jingwu warned: "A collision at 900 km/h would be catastrophic. Radar might not even spot them."
China’s Airspace Rules 🛂
Class A airspace (above 6,000m) requires strict permits – which cloud suck maneuvers often bypass. While lower zones allow recreational flying, experts urge pilots to avoid weather gambles. As this survivor’s icy face proves: nature always wins the altitude game. ⚠️
