How high did Vesna Vulovic fall without a parachute?

Vesna Vulovic survived a fall of 33,000 feet after the aircraft she was on exploded.

Was Vesna Vulovic the only survivor of the plane crash?

Yes, Vesna Vulovic was the sole survivor out of the 28 people on board the Yugoslav Airlines DC-9 when it disintegrated.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Stewardess Survives 33,000 Ft. Fall, Sets World Record

Stewardess Survives 33,000 Ft. Fall, Sets World Record

Q: What injuries did Vesna Vulovic sustain?

Vesna Vulovic suffered severe injuries including a fractured skull, broken legs, vertebrae, and pelvis.

26 Jan

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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.

Stewardess Survives 33,000 Ft. Fall, Sets World Record

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."