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What is the longest fall someone has survived?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 19, 2026

And Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulović holds the Guinness world record for the longest survived fall — over 30,000 feet — after her plane blew up in the 1970s, though some cynics think the real height of Vulović's fall was a mere 2,600 feet.

What is the farthest someone has fell and survived?

Vesna Vulović (Serbian Cyrillic: Весна Вуловић, pronounced [ʋêsna ʋûːloʋitɕ]; 3 January 1950 – 23 December 2016) was a Serbian flight attendant who holds the Guinness world record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute: 10,160 m (33,330 ft; 6.31 mi).

Has anyone ever survived a free fall?

British Royal Air Force rear gunner survived a fall with only a broken wrist and leg. Landed in deep snow drift in a pine forest near Berlin. South African skydiver who hit power lines and fractured pelvic bone.

How did Vesna Vulović survive the fall?

They claimed that the very thing that almost kept Vulović from being a flight attendant is what ultimately saved her life. Her physicians believe her low blood pressure kept her heart from bursting on impact with the mountainside.

Where did Vesna Vulović land?

Trapped in the plane's tail, Vulović plummeted to earth in sub-zero temperatures and landed on a steep, heavily wooded slope near a village. The fuselage tumbled through pine branches and into a thick coating of snow, softening the impact and cushioning its descent down the hill, crash investigators said at the time.

22 related questions found

When did Vesna Vulović fall?

On the 26th of January 1972, Vesna Vulović was a flight attendant onboard JAT Yugoslav Airlines Flight 367. The flight path, between Stockholm in Sweden and Belgrade in Serbia, took the aircraft over Czechoslovakia - now the Czech Republic - and that is where the plane exploded into three pieces.

What's the highest fall survived without a parachute?

The all-time record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute belongs to Yugoslavian flight attendant Vesna Vulović. She was the sole survivior of a bomb placed onboard JAT Flight 367 in 1972 which saw her plummet more than 30,000 feet.

What is the highest height a human can survive?

People usually survive falls from a height of 20-25 feet (6-8 meters), but above that, things get very deadly very fast. A study done in Paris in 2005 looked at 287 victims of falls, and found that falls from 8 stories (30 meters) or higher were 100% fatal.

Did Bear Grylls parachute not open?

The TV star was skydiving in Zambia in 1996 when his parachute failed to inflate, causing him to land on his back. At the age of 21, Grylls was put through a year of rehabilitation after fracturing three vertebrae. Fans were impressed with the star's honesty and praised him for the grit.

How high did Bear Grylls fall from?

Back when Grylls was still a newbie with his squadron during the time he served with the British SAS, him and some of his mates were out on a skydiving adventure for some R&R (rest and recuperation). It was then that his parachute malfunctioned and tore mid-fall - at about 16,000 feet.

How long would it take to hit the ground from 30 000 feet?

When you're in free fall from 9,144 meters (30,000 feet) in the air, a soft landing is probably the last thing on your mind. It all happens so fast. From the moment you're outside of the plane, it's only about 170 seconds until you hit the ground. During that time you will be extremely cold, and deprived of oxygen.

Why don't they put parachutes on planes?

Short answer: There are a few reasons, including the lack of parachute training of passengers, high speed of the airplane, cold temperatures at that altitude, non-conducive design of commercial planes and the cost spike, which make putting parachutes onboard commercial airplanes unviable.

Can you survive falling out of a plane into water?

Assuming you've reached terminal velocity — the maximum falling speed — it won't feel good impacting water, but you still could survive if it's deep. Try to hit the water head or feet first to minimize your body's surface area that will take the brunt of the force of impact.

Can you survive a fall into the ocean?

Either way, you're not surviving long. Water doesn't compress, at all. Given the choice between water to land in and a freshly rained on field, I'd take my chances with the mud. Odds are extremely low for survival, but physics says it's possible.”

How high can a human fall without death?

A more recent study on 287 vertical fall victims revealed that falls from height of 8 stories (i.e. around 90-100 feet) and higher, are associated with a 100% mortality [4]. Thus, a vertical falling height of more than 100 feet is generally considered to constitute a "non-survivable" injury.

Can humans survive terminal velocity?

People have survived terminal velocity falls. In 1972, Vesna Vulović fell over 33,330 ft without a parachute after the plane she was in exploded. She didn't exactly walk away from the fall, however. She spent days in a coma, and was hospitalized for months after that.

What do pilots say when they are crashing?

THE phrase "Easy Victor" is one that you never want to hear your pilot say on a flight - because it means the plane is going to crash. It's often used by pilots to warn crew to evacuate the plane without alarming passengers according to a flight attendant.

Were any bodies recovered from Flight 11?

During the recovery effort at the World Trade Center site, workers recovered and identified dozens of remains from Flight 11 victims, but many body fragments could not be identified.

What is the safest private plane?

PC-12 NGX – One of the world's safest single-engined aircraft for flight hours, with over 7 million fly hours under its belt. It continues to hold its position as the finest in the private plane segment based on its range, safety, comfort, value, and versatility.

Does your body explode when you fall?

Your Cells Can Burst

Decelerating rapidly - which is what happens if the human body falls and then makes sudden impact - can cause cells to rupture. Like cells, blood vessels can also break open, preventing the circulation of oxygen throughout the body.

Can you jump out of a plane before it crashes?

IT IS MOST unlikely that a parachute will be of use if a passenger plane crashes. Even a plane-load of active military parachutists takes several minutes of reasonably steady flight to exit. Parachuting takes nerve, skill, and strength.