Major news outlets have retrieved the viral footage of a Chinese paraglider, Peng Yuijiang, who purportedly soared to the altitude of Mount Everest, after facing allegations that parts of the video may be AI-generated. Reuters, the agency that first distributed the footage, reports suspicions that the initial five seconds of the video contain artificial imagery. This extraordinary event supposedly occurred at 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) in the Qilian Mountains of northwest China, during a standard equipment check.
Digital security firm GetReal, based in California, highlighted discrepancies between the video’s opening and its subsequent scenes. In the beginning, a 360-degree camera captures Yuijiang wearing a white helmet with his legs suspended, whereas later footage shows him in a black helmet with an insulating cocoon encasing his legs.
Despite these inconsistencies, many expert paragliders assert that reaching 28,000 feet is feasible. Yuijiang shared his flight log on XContest, a dedicated paraglider website, which includes GPS data considered “tamper-proof.” However, industry professionals question Yuijiang’s claim of an accidental ascent due to his use of specialized heavy mittens.
“Storm clouds don’t just appear above your head and hoover you into space. They build over a period of time,” stated Daniel Wainwright, an Australian flight instructor. “He shouldn’t have been flying.” The presence of mittens suggests Yuijiang was prepared for the flight, contradicting the idea that his take-off was unintended. One paragliding expert speculated to Reuters that Yuijiang may have fabricated the accidental launch narrative to avoid repercussions for breaching restricted airspace.
As for the potential AI-generation at the beginning of the clip, no conclusive explanation has emerged, leading to lingering skepticism. Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV, which provided the video to Reuters, declined to comment. Yuijiang has also not responded to inquiries.
The story has gained traction, appearing in several major news outlets, including BBC and The New York Times. NBC has since retracted its coverage, acknowledging that “some of the footage provided by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and distributed by Reuters that appeared in our initial coverage was AI-generated. We have removed this video and are continuing to report on the veracity of the story.”