A Chinese paraglider’s terrifying brush with “cloud suck” highlights the extreme risks of paragliding in storm-prone conditions.
June-1, 2025: A jaw-dropping video of Chinese paraglider Peng Yujiang’s perilous ascent to 8,598 metres (28,000 feet) over the Qilian Mountains has gone viral, drawing attention to a rare and dangerous weather phenomenon known as cloud suck.
The 55-year-old was testing second-hand paragliding gear at around 3,000 metres when he was unexpectedly caught in a powerful updraft. This catapulted him nearly 5,000 metres higher—where he faced subzero temperatures of -40°C and dangerously low oxygen levels. Despite hypoxia and severe frostbite, Peng miraculously managed to navigate back to safety.
A freak updraft over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau lifted Chinese Paraglider Peng Yujiang nearly nine kilometers in minutes — and the entire flight was caught on camera.
— Sixth Tone (@SixthTone) May 28, 2025
Screenshots from Peng’s GPS flight tracker show he took off at 12:19 p.m. from the Qilian Mountains, an area… pic.twitter.com/ov4Ld5ARx1
Peng’s Frightening Experience
Peng recounted to CCTV, “I had just bought a second-hand paragliding harness and was conducting a ground test. Suddenly, the wind picked up and I was lifted into the air. I tried to land but couldn’t. I was surrounded by white clouds and had no idea which way I was going.”
Trapped in the swirling mass of cumulonimbus clouds, Peng used his compass to eventually steer himself out of the updraft toward the northeast. A video of his ordeal—showing him covered in ice and visibly shaken—quickly went viral on Douyin (China’s TikTok), sparking widespread concern.
Both Peng and his friend who posted the video have been handed six-month bans from paragliding for unauthorised flight and safety breaches.
What Is Cloud Suck?
Cloud suck refers to the phenomenon of a paraglider being pulled into intense upward air currents near cumulonimbus clouds. These powerful updrafts can suddenly and forcefully elevate a glider to extreme altitudes, exposing pilots to life-threatening cold, turbulence, lightning, and oxygen deprivation.
Aviation expert Wang Yanan explained to CGTN, “Such rapid ascents are extremely hazardous. Once inside the cloud, the pilot may encounter severe cold, lack of oxygen, turbulence, and even lightning. At very high altitudes, these threats become even more severe.”
Wang also warned that flying above 8,000 metres brings paragliders perilously close to the cruising altitude of commercial aircraft, creating additional dangers of mid-air collisions.
Tags:
cloud suck, Peng Yujiang, paragliding mishap, Qilian Mountains, rare weather phenomena, cumulonimbus clouds, aviation safety