“Jetman” fails to fly from Africa to Europe

November 25, 2009  •  Andalucia, Cadiz, Lead2  •  0 Comments

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A daredevil Swiss man failed to make the first intercontinental flight powered by just a jet-pack!

Nicknamed “Jetman”, 50-year-old Yves Rossy tried to fly the 37km across the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa to Europe.

The journey between Tangier in Morocco and Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz was expected to take less than 15 minutes to complete but Rossy had to ditch a wing as he landed in the Atlantic ocean.

Rossy jumped out of a plane at almost 2,000m. He was meant to cruise at a speed of around 200km per hour, before parachuting down to the Spanish coast.

Instead his team had to winch him, unharmed, out of the water with a helicopter.

Reports speculate that weather conditions or engine failure could have contributed to his failed attempt.

A year ago the plucky explorer boosted his way into the record books when he used a jet-propelled wing to cross the English Channel from Calais to Dover.

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