Explained: What Is Wingsuit Flying And How Risky Is It?

Recently, a 24-year-old Scottish wingsuit flyer, Liam Byrne from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, died following a crash during a jump in the Swiss Alps. Byrne, a national wingsuit champion who was Britain’s youngest licensed wingsuit pilot, launched from Mount Gitschen, located at around 2,400 m. He was later found critically injured at approximately 2,100 m and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Byrne was flying with two other wingsuiters at the time of the incident. He reportedly veered off his course and struck a ledge shortly after take-off. Swiss authorities have opened a standard criminal investigation into the death, a routine procedure for mountain accidents. No foul play is suspected. Byrne had thousands of jumps to his name and was the subject of a BBC documentary, The Boy Who Can Fly, which highlighted his passion for the extreme sport. His father described him as fearless yet considered, someone who pursued wingsuit flying not for the thrill alone, but as a meaningful expression of freedom.

Byrne’s death only adds to a growing number of fatalities associated with wingsuit BASE jumping, particularly in mountainous regions like the Alps, where technical terrain and weather conditions add to the danger.

What Is Wingsuit Flying?

A type of skydiving or BASE jumping called "wingsuit flying," or "wingsuiting," involves the jumper donning a specially made jumpsuit with fabric wings that are stretched between their arms and legs. Instead of just falling vertically, the flyer can glide forward at great speed thanks to these wings. A parachute is released at the end of the flight to provide a controlled descent.

Wingsuit flying from aircraft is considered less risky due to greater altitude and reaction time. BASE wingsuit jumping—from cliffs, bridges, or tall structures—offers far less margin for error, often leaving just seconds for parachute deployment.

How Dangerous Is It?

Proximity flying, where wingsuiters glide close to mountainsides, ridges, or forests, is particularly hazardous. Jumpers can reach speeds of up to 200 mph. At such velocity, even a slight misjudgement in distance or wind pattern can result in a fatal impact.

Wingsuit BASE jumping is statistically among the most dangerous extreme sports. Studies and incident databases suggest a fatality rate of roughly 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 jumps—significantly higher than that of traditional skydiving. Between the early 2000s and mid-2010s, fatality numbers in wingsuit BASE jumping steadily increased, prompting concern among regulators and the wingsuit community.

Accidents are most often caused by pilot error, poor weather conditions, or equipment failure, such as a delayed or failed parachute deployment. The combination of low launch altitudes and high-speed flight gives little time to correct errors once a jump begins.

A Tragic Reminder

Liam Byrne’s death is a stark reminder of the fine line between the thrill-seeking and the risk in wingsuit flying. Even in the fool-proof light of improved training and safety protocols in recent years, the sport remains inherently dangerous—particularly in remote or alpine locations where environmental factors are unpredictable.

For many in the wingsuit community, including Byrne, the sport represents adventure, freedom, artistry, and a pursuit of human flight. Yet, each loss sustained within the extreme sport underlines the extreme risks involved and touches upon ongoing questions about safety regulation, training standards, and personal limits in one of the world’s most demanding aerial disciplines.