Wingsuit pilot dies of parachute failure in Central China

CHANGSHA - The body of a missing female wingsuit pilot has been found, sources from the Tianmenshan National Forest Park confirmed on Monday evening, nearly a week after she plunged off from a helicopter during a film shoot in Central China's Zhangjiajie mountains.

Rescuers rushed to the scene upon hearing from local villagers, who reported having seen a body from afar in an unfrequented dense forest in the scenic area.

No vital signs were found and the body was later confirmed as the female pilot who had gone missing on the morning of May 12.

The body was found at an altitude of 900 meters, a relative drop of about 1600 meters from where she flew off from the helicopter.

The pilot deviated from her planned route and lost contact shortly after 11:19 am on Tuesday, when she and another pilot jumped from a helicopter flying at an altitude of 2,500 meters.

The 23-year-old missing pilot was said to have undergone systematic professional training abroad and have completed hundreds of wingsuit flights and skydives.

Rescuers believed that the accident was mainly caused by a parachute failure.

Previous search and rescue efforts had been hampered by complicated terrain, along with low visibility caused by recent persistent rainfall.

Wingsuit flying is an extreme sport which involves participants gliding through the air wearing a specially constructed suit with fabric under the arms and legs to slow the rate of descent. Much like skydiving, the flight ends with the deployment of a parachute.

With its steep mountains and fantastic view, Zhangjiajie has been a much sought-after destination for wingsuit fliers worldwide.