Skip to main content

A man just survived a 25,000 foot jump from a plane without a parachute

A man jumped from an airplane at 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) without a parachute on Saturday – and lived to tell the tale.

No, Luke Aikins hadn’t inadvertently forgotten to put on his parachute prior to exiting the aircraft. This was a deliberate act.

Recommended Videos

After leaping from a plane above the southern California desert, the 42-year-old skydiving stuntman had a full two minutes to regret taking on the challenge, but considering it was being broadcast live on TV – oh, and his life was at stake, too – there really was no time for second thoughts. Or any way out, for that matter.

A 100×100-foot (30×30 meters) net had been set up to catch Aikins, one that must have looked about the size of a microchip when he began his dive. Using only air currents to control his descent, and a GPS device to confirm where the hell he was, the stuntman hurtled toward the ground at terminal velocity. That’s 122 mph/54 meters per second. Otherwise known as fast.

A split second before hitting the net, Texas-born Aikins performed a lightning-quick body turn to ensure the best possible landing position.

For what must have felt like an eternity to those watching the stunt live, Aikins remained motionless in the net as it was slowly lowered to the ground. But he was fine, able to stand and raise his arms aloft as the nearby crowd cheered. First to greet Aikins was wife Monica, mightily relieved he was still in one piece as opposed to a cartoon-like splat deep in the desert floor.

Best not to try this at home

As you’d expect, Aikins is an extremely experienced skydiver, having notched up more than 18,000 jumps – all with parachutes – over an exhilarating 26-year career. He’s performed stunts for Hollywood movies too, including Iron Man 3.

According to CNN, preparation for the extraordinary challenge included countless parachute-equipped jumps aimed at a much smaller target to improve his skill, though for those he always pulled the cord about 1,000 feet up. A lighting system that changes color according to your position, similar to those used at airports, was used to help guide Aikins toward the net, while a GPS device on his helmet beeped intermittently to offer accurate altitude information.

“Whenever people attempt to push the limits of what’s considered humanly possible, they’re invariably described as crazy,” Aikins said before the jump. “But to me, this jump is simply the next logical step in a lifetime of extreme challenges.”

Following his achievement, he wrote on Facebook, “My vision was always proper preparation and that if you train right you can make anything happen.”

We don’t know what Aikins has planned for the future, but the purchase of a pipe and rocking chair is certain to be a ways off.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more