55-Year-Old Paraglider Appears To Survive Death In Freezing Minus 40 Degree Celsius; Video Goes Viral, But It's AI-Generated

A breathtaking video recently surfaced online, showing a man paragliding at an extreme altitude, seemingly battling freezing temperatures and fierce winds — all without an oxygen mask or winter clothing.

The video claimed that 55-year-old Peng Yujiang, a Chinese praraglder set off for a trip at around 3,000 metres. However, due to unexpected conditions, he was allegedly lifted to nearly 5,000 metres above sea level — a height where oxygen levels drop drastically and temperatures plummet to around -40°C.

Viewers were stunned as Peng appeared to be covered in snow mid-flight, calmly enduring the harsh chill without any protective gear. With frostbite visible on his face and fingers, and his hands reportedly numb, Peng supposedly recorded the entire 72-minute flight.

Watch video

No wind, no snow- all AI

To add to the intensity, he was shown without a parachute backup, making the flight look even more perilous.

The video quickly gained traction on social media, with Chinese state-linked broadcaster CCTV and international outlets sharing it widely. Many hailed Peng as an unstoppable adventurer, enduring chilling weather which was otherwise fatally challenging.

But not everything was as it seemed.

There was no -40°C wind, no severe frostbite, no heroic flight.

Wait, what? Soon after the clip went viral, netizens discovered that it was AI-generated.

A report by NBC News has now revealed that the viral video is at least partially generated by artificial intelligence.

As the truth surfaced, several media platforms quietly took down the video.

The flight was said to have occurred on May 24, but it was all AI at large.

Published on: Sunday, June 01, 2025, 11:33 AM IST