Wingsuit racers tear through Tianmen Mountain skies in 'Airborne F1' thriller

China

Wingsuit racers tear through Tianmen Mountain skies in 'Airborne F1' thriller

2026-09-12 14:12 Last Updated At：16:57

Eight wingsuit skydivers leapt from a glass platform more than 1,400 meters above sea level on Friday, hurtling along a breathtaking cliffside course in the final of the 2026 Wingsuit Flying World Championship at central China's Tianmen Mountain.

Often described as the "F1 of the skies," the championship gathered 16 elite flyers from 11 countries, who battled it out in the speed race and the precision target race from Sept. 6 to 12.

In Friday's curve-racing event, finalists who had advanced through the preliminary rounds launched one by one from the glass jump point on Yuhu Peak. They dove, accelerated and screamed past rock walls and ravines in a stunning display of precision and nerve.

With a 990-meter vertical drop over a straight-line distance of roughly 1.3 kilometers, the course demanded near-perfect control, requiring pilots to hug the mountainside along the canyon's path. The finish line was a cableway rope stretched across the gorge, and the fastest time would decide the champion.

After two rounds of fierce competition, Australia's Tahi Paul Munroe successfully defended his title in 24.051 seconds. Norway's Joakim Lerhaugen took second in 24.292 seconds, and China's Zhang Shupeng claimed third in 24.663 seconds.

"I've dreamed of flying here for more than 10 years, and then to come and compete here and not only win for my first time was such a great feeling. It was a big accomplishment for me, almost like a life goal," Munroe said after his win.

The thrilling spectacle left the crowds of tourists and spectators awestruck.

"It's so spectacular. Even watching with my own eyes, it's already so terrifying. But for them to do this from such a height, I think they're absolutely amazing, truly incredible," said Ms. Chen, a visitor from Shanghai. Tianmen Mountain, in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, is one of China's most breathtaking natural landmarks. Since 2012, the World Wingsuit League has staged its Wingsuit Flying World Championship here, drawing skilled pilots from home and abroad to test themselves against its distinctive terrain and challenging flight paths.

EU institutions, E5 to represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks

European Union (EU) leaders agreed on Friday that EU institutions and the E5 group of the Coalition of the Willing would form Europe's team for negotiations on peace in Ukraine, European Council President Antonio Costa said.

Speaking after an informal EU leaders' meeting in Dublin, Costa said the European negotiating team would act in close coordination and unity, stressing that Europe must speak with "one clear and united voice" in discussions concerning Ukraine's future and European security.

He stressed that the EU has "a central role in discussing Ukraine's European future, its reconstruction and prosperity," and security guarantees for Ukraine should be discussed "within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, in close coordination with NATO."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement, saying the European team would include the European Council, the European Commission and the E5, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.

"We decide on who represents us, and that's what we've done today," she said, adding that Europe wanted to safeguard its interests and support Ukraine in the negotiations.

On further assistance to Ukraine, Costa said EU leaders would discuss the country's financing needs for next year and beyond at the next European Council meeting on Nov. 26 to 27.