Indian Skydiver Shital Mahajan Sets Record with 21,500 ft Jump in Front of Mount Everest

Indian skydiver Shital Mahajan has made history by becoming the first woman in the world to complete a helicopter jump from 21,500 feet in front of Mount Everest. The 41-year-old Padma Shri awardee and holder of numerous skydiving records landed safely at Kalapatthar, the highest altitude at 17,444 feet, on November 13.

Mahajan expressed her accomplishment in a Facebook post, calling it the “best jump of my life” and claiming three national records. These include being the first Indian woman to skydive in front of Mount Everest at Kalapatthar and achieving the highest altitude skydiving landing by a woman.

In the lead-up to this feat, Mahajan began a series of high-altitude jumps on November 11, starting from 5,000 feet AGL at 17,500 feet altitude. She successfully landed at Syangboche airport at 12,500 feet, with New Zealand’s Wendy Smith as her instructor. On November 12, Mahajan performed a flag jump at Syangboche airport from 8,000 feet, securing a national record for the highest flag skydiving landing by a woman, accompanied by skydiving legends Wendy Elizabeth Smith and Nadia Solovyeva.