Jet man Rossy ditches into the sea

Nov 25 2009

A Swiss pilot aiming to become the first person to complete an intercontinental crossing using a jet-powered wing has been forced to ditch into the sea.

Yves Rossy, the so-called Jet Man, was aiming to cross from Africa to Europe with the jet-propelled wing strapped to his back.

But problems were reported about 15 minutes after he took off from above Tangier in Morocco and Rossy was later resscued from the sea by helicopter.

The challenge's organisers said Rossy's wing had a "malfunction" and rescuers were taking him to hospital for a routine check-up.

Clothed in a flame-retardant suit, the 50-year-old daredevil jumped from a plane at 6,500ft and was intending to use his four-cylinder jet pack to power the eight-foot carbon fibre wing at speeds of up to 180mph across the 23 miles from outside Tangier in Morocco to Atlantera in southern Spain.

But he never made it across and ditched in the sea.

Organisers said Rossy had deployed his parachute and it appeared that both he and the wing "seemed intact".

A search and rescue team codenamed Falcon 1, involving former special forces members, later winched him to safety.

Once on board the rescue helicopter, Rossy could be seen waving to onlookers through the open door.

A new attempt to set the record is expected early in the new year, they added.