A chilling video recently took the internet by storm, claiming to show a 55-year-old Chinese paraglider, Peng Yujiang, soaring to nearly 5,000 metres above sea level without an oxygen mask or winter clothing. The footage, shared widely on social media and by major broadcasters including CCTV, portrayed Peng battling -40°C temperatures, high winds, and alleged frostbite—without even a backup parachute.
The 72-minute flight video allegedly captured Peng calmly enduring the harshest of elements, with his fingers and face visibly frozen and his body dusted with snow. Spectators hailed him as a fearless adventurer defying death.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Chinese paraglider survives freezing death as updraft yanks him into subzero clouds 1,000s meters above sea level
-40C ordeal over Qilian Mountains reportedly led to accidental breaking of an altitude record
No oxygen & coated in ice, flight suspension seems like a needed rest pic.twitter.com/aTwjZBWc4G
— RT (@RT_com) May 28, 2025
Reality Check: No Wind, No Frostbite, Just AI
However, it has now been revealed that the video was far from real. According to a report by NBC News, the footage was at least partially created using artificial intelligence. There were no freezing winds, no snow, and no frostbite. The heroic flight, said to have occurred on May 24, was entirely a digital fabrication.
As the truth surfaced, multiple media platforms that had initially promoted the clip quietly removed it. The revelation sparked discussions online about misinformation and the powerful realism of AI-generated content.