Wingsuit flyers grounded following death

  • 09/10/2016
Wingsuit flyers grounded following death

A town in France has banned wingsuit flying after a Russian man crashed into a building in the middle of town and died.

The 32-year-old's parachute failed to open at the end of the flight near Mont Blanc in the French Alps.

He's the fifth wingsuit flyer to die in the Chamonix area this year, and Mayor Eric Fournier has had enough.

"We can't consider that flying over inhabited zones is something that's normal, when they're putting residents at risk," he told local media.

"Wingsuiting is still a new sport that is growing in popularity - those who do it still haven't mastered it," said Deputy Mayor Jean-Louis Verdier.

The ban will last six months.

Newshub.