Key Point Summary – Felix Baumgartner’s Final Moments

• Felix Baumgartner, 56, died in a paramotor crash in Italy on Thursday.
• He lost consciousness midair and slammed into the ground, dying instantly.
• His longtime partner Miha Schwartzenberg shared video of his final takeoff.
• The couple had a special “Wifey Landing Call” after every flight—except this one.
• Baumgartner made history in 2012 by breaking the sound barrier during a skydive.
• A hotel worker on the ground was also injured by the crash.
• His partner vowed to keep his story and legacy alive despite her grief.

A Final Flight into the Sky

Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil who once broke the sound barrier by jumping from the edge of space, has died in a tragic paragliding accident in Italy. The 56-year-old adventurer reportedly lost consciousness mid-flight on Thursday while piloting a motorized paraglider in the coastal town of Porto Sant’Elpidio.

His longtime partner, Romanian-born TV presenter Miha Schwartzenberg, shared heartbreaking footage of Baumgartner’s final takeoff — unaware it would be the last time she saw him fly.

Partner Captures Tragic Last Moments

In the short video, Baumgartner can be seen dressed in shorts and a crash helmet. He powers up his paramotor propeller, runs across a grassy field, and lifts into the clear summer sky. “I was filming him taking off not knowing that this will be his last flight of his extraordinary life,” Schwartzenberg wrote in a grief-stricken social media post.

The couple had been together for over a decade. She had accompanied him to countless skydives, paragliding sessions, helicopter stunts, and air shows. “For over 12 years I was there for every take off and landing,” she added.

Illness in the Air Led to Fatal Crash

Authorities believe Baumgartner fell ill while airborne, losing control of his paraglider. He spiraled downward, ultimately crashing into the side of a swimming pool near a hotel. He died on impact. A hotel employee was also hurt when the glider hit them.

The exact medical reason for his collapse midair remains under investigation. It’s unclear whether he had any preexisting condition or if the accident was triggered by weather, equipment failure, or other external factors.

A Legacy in the Sky

Baumgartner rose to global fame in 2012 when he ascended 24 miles above Earth in a stratospheric balloon — and then jumped. The record-breaking skydive made him the first human to travel faster than the speed of sound in free fall, reaching Mach 1.25 without a vehicle. Millions watched the Red Bull-sponsored feat live, cementing him as an icon in extreme sports history.

Known for his bold spirit and steely nerves, Baumgartner was a fixture in aerial and adventure sports for decades. From BASE jumps off skyscrapers to wingsuit dives through mountain passes, his reputation for pushing the limits was unmatched.

“Wifey Landing Call” Silenced Forever

Schwartzenberg revealed a personal detail that crushed fans. She said the two had a tradition called the “WLC” — short for “Wifey Landing Call.” It was their private way of checking in after every flight when she couldn’t be there in person. “Never missed one,” she wrote. “Except… this one.”

That simple missed call now symbolizes the finality of his last flight — and the heartbreak left behind.

Fans and Tributes Pour In

Since Baumgartner’s death, fans from around the world have flooded Schwartzenberg’s inbox and social media with condolences. She expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you all for your support and for keeping his unique legacy high up.”

She promised to continue telling Baumgartner’s story, making sure his fearless spirit would not be forgotten.

Mourning a Legend, One Sunrise at a Time

In her emotional message, Schwartzenberg ended with a poignant image: waking up each morning and making only one coffee — not two.

She’s now left grappling with the silence that follows a lifetime of adrenaline, applause, and gravity-defying achievements.

As the world remembers Felix Baumgartner’s record-shattering leap from space, it must now also remember his quiet final flight into the summer sky — and the woman who captured his last, soaring moment of freedom.