BASE Jumper Dies Training for Red Bull Wingsuit Championship in China

video of Victor Kovats during his final flight in China on Tuesday

Three-time Hungarian national wingsuit champion Victor Kovats died Tuesday flying his wingsuit in China’s Hunan province while training for Red Bull’s Wingsuit League’s Championship.  Victor reportedly hit a cliff head-first, mid-flight due an equipment failure or gust of wind.

“The reports said the highly experienced Kovats apparently died from a head injury after crashing into a cliff side. His 700-meter (2,290-foot) jump Tuesday afternoon was part of preparations for the Second World Wingsuit Championship being held in the park from Oct. 11 to 13.” – The Associated Press

Victor had successfully completed over 700 BASE jumps and was an experienced wingsuit pilot.  Victor made his final jump while training for the Second World Wingsuit Championship that is scheduled to occur this weekend.

Over 200 people searched for Victor’s body in the valley floor of Tianmen National Forest Park in China’s Hunan province on Tuesday.  

“We are deeply saddened by Victor Kovats’s passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his parents and friends during these difficult times. He will be always be remembered for his deep passion for life and his spirit of adventure, and he will always be sadly missed in the wingsuit community.

As a result of this tragedy we will conduct a thorough review of the events that lead into this accident and adopt any appropriate changes for the future of the World Wingsuit League.

For the last three years we have worked closely on safety issues with the athletes, manufacturers and other experts. Still, when the world’s best compete at the highest level in any sport, the risks remain. Viktor was a three time Hungary national champion wingsuiter and a serious contender in the international wingsuit race circuit.” – Red Bull statement

James Bond stuntman, Mark Sutton, who parachuted from a helicopter into the 2012 London Olympics, also died flying his wingsuit this past August in Switzerland.