Felix Baumgartner Dies Paragliding Crash Italy’s Marche Region

Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian extreme athlete famed for breaking the sound barrier in freefall during his 2012 Red Bull Stratos jump from 24 miles above Earth, died in a paragliding accident in Porto Sant’Elipido, Italy. Witnesses heard a loud boom as Baumgartner's motorized paraglider spun out of control and crashed near a swimming pool, with some suggesting he may have fallen ill mid-flight. The 56-year-old, known as "Fearless Felix," had been on vacation, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The city’s mayor described Baumgartner as a global icon of flight and courage, expressing the community’s deep sorrow over his tragic death. An employee at the crash site was slightly injured but is in good condition, and no guests were harmed. Baumgartner’s legacy includes numerous daring feats beyond his historic jump, such as flying across the English Channel and performing helicopter stunts with The Flying Bulls.