KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 17
Chinese climber and extreme sports athlete Zhang Jing has become the first person to paraglide from the summit of Mt Ama Dablam (6,856 metres) using a standard paraglider wing, marking a historic milestone in Himalayan aerial adventure.
Zhang launched from the peak at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and landed safely at Ama Dablam Base Camp roughly 30 minutes later, according to Sano Babu Sunuwar, Managing Director of Babu Adventure Paragliding Pvt Ltd.
"This is the first-ever successful paragliding flight from the summit of Ama Dablam using a standard wing," Sunuwar said, confirming that Zhang had secured all required government permissions for the expedition and flight.
According to the organizers, Zhang's flight was authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the Department of Tourism, and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation for paragliding operations between 17–24 November 2025. CAAN approved take-off from the summit area and landing at base camp, with strict conditions on weather, communication with air-traffic control, altitude limits, compliance with RAOC standards, and submission of post-flight reports. Similarly, the national parks authority allowed the operation under supervision of Sagarmatha National Park officials and mandated adherence to protected-area regulations, ensuring no disturbance to wildlife.
Dawa Rinji Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks (SST), which managed mountaineering logistics and climbing support, was the climbing guide for the Zhang. The expedition itself was part of an officially permitted mountaineering team under the Department of Tourism's autumn 2025 roster, managed by SST.
The 32-year-old athlete is widely known for combining high-altitude mountaineering with extreme aerial sports, including skydiving and paragliding. He is also associated with several adventure-sport institutions, including AG Extreme Circle, RedBullX, and serves as a Beijing National Fitness & Ice and Snow Sports Promotion Ambassador.
A flight was previously made from Ama Dablam in 2009 by British climber Stuart Holmes, but using a Gin Glider, which organizers note does not qualify as a standard paraglider. Sunuwar clarified that Zhang is the first to complete a summit flight with a normal paragliding wing.
