Home / Disasters and Accidents / Stewardess Survives 33,000 Ft. Fall, Sets World Record
Stewardess Survives 33,000 Ft. Fall, Sets World Record
26 Jan
Summary
- She survived a 33,000-foot fall after a plane exploded in 1972.
- She suffered severe injuries but recovered against all odds.
- Her survival remains the world record for the highest parachute-less fall.
On January 26, 1972, Vesna Vulovic, then a 22-year-old stewardess, survived a catastrophic fall of 33,000 feet when a Yugoslav Airlines DC-9 exploded over Czechoslovakia. She was the only survivor out of 28 people on board.
Vulovic was not scheduled to be on the flight but was mistaken for another stewardess with the same first name. An hour into the journey, the aircraft disintegrated, and she was found trapped in the fuselage by a food cart, eventually falling to the ground.
Despite severe injuries, including a fractured skull, broken legs, vertebrae, and pelvis, Vulovic survived. She spent 10 days in a coma and her recovery was considered miraculous, with doctors stating, "Nobody ever expected me to live this long."
Authorities determined explosives caused the crash, though later theories suggested it might have been accidental friendly fire. Vulovic never recalled the event but became a national hero in Serbia. In 1985, Guinness World Records recognized her survival, a record she still holds.
Vulovic continued working for Yugoslav Airlines in an office role for 18 years. She later became politically active, campaigning for democratic parties. She passed away in her Belgrade home in 2016 at age 66, reflecting on her life as having "nine lives."
