Felix Baumgartner poses with his Laureus Award in 2013, one year after becoming the first human to break the sound barrier in free fall. His tattoo, "Born to Fly," became symbolic of a career defined by daring jumps and record-breaking feats.
He jumped from the edge of space and fell faster than the speed of sound. Now, the world is mourning Felix Baumgartner—the daredevil known as "Fearless Felix"—after his sudden death in a crash on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
Baumgartner, 56, was killed Thursday when his paraglider crashed into a swimming pool in the city of Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italian firefighters said. The city’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, confirmed the death in a public post.
"Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight," the mayor wrote.
Who was Felix Baumgartner?
The backstory:
Baumgartner shot to global fame on October 14, 2012, when he became the first human to break the sound barrier without a vehicle.
Wearing a pressurized suit and supported by a helium balloon, he ascended to 128,000 feet—over 24 miles above New Mexico—then stepped off the capsule and began a free fall to Earth. At one point, he reached speeds of 843.6 mph, or about 1.25 times the speed of sound.
His descent lasted nine minutes. Millions watched it live on YouTube.
"When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble," he said afterward. "You do not think about breaking records anymore… the only thing you want is to come back alive."
What made his 2012 jump historic?
By the numbers:
- 843.6 mph: top speed reached during descent
- 24.2 miles: altitude of jump
- 1st: human to break the sound barrier in free fall
- 9 minutes: total duration of the fall
- 13 seconds: time Baumgartner spent in a dangerous flat spin
Baumgartner’s feat broke a record that had stood since 1960. Though his altitude record was surpassed in 2014 by Google executive Alan Eustace, his supersonic leap remains iconic.
What else did Baumgartner do?
Timeline:
Baumgartner’s career included:
- Flying across the English Channel with a carbon-fiber wing in 2003
- BASE jumping from landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil
- Performing helicopter stunts with The Flying Bulls across Europe
A former Austrian military parachutist, he was known for pushing boundaries—and making it look effortless.
What they're saying:
Ciarpella, the mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio, described him as "a symbol of courage and passion." Millions around the world remember him for the moment he leapt into history with a thumbs-up from the edge of space.
Why you should care
Baumgartner’s record-breaking jump wasn’t just a publicity stunt—it advanced the science of extreme flight and inspired a generation of explorers. His legacy lives on in both aerospace research and pop culture.
The Source
This report is based on reporting by the Associated Press, including updates from journalists Colleen Barry and John Seewer. Key details were confirmed by local officials in Porto Sant’Elpidio and supported by archival material from Baumgartner’s 2012 Red Bull Stratos mission.