At a Glance
- Vesna Vulovic survived a 33,000-foot fall in 1972 and remains the record holder.
- She endured severe injuries, a decade-long coma, and decades of recovery.
- Her life after the crash spanned civil service, political activism, and a 1985 Guinness award.
**Why it matters: Her story illustrates extraordinary human resilience and the enduring impact of a single event on a life and a nation.
Vesna Vulovic’s name is synonymous with survival against all odds. In 1972, a Yugoslav Airlines Douglas DC-9 exploded over Czechoslovakia, and she plummeted 33,000 feet-the highest recorded fall without a parachute. Decades later, she continued to hold that world record until her death in 2016.
The 1972 Crash
On Jan. 26, 1972, Vulovic, a 22-year-old stewardess, was mistakenly boarded on a flight that was not scheduled for her. The aircraft, bound for Belgrade, exploded an hour into the journey over the village of Srbska Kamenice. The explosion claimed the lives of all 27 passengers and crew.
A nearby woodsman heard her screams and rescued her as the broken fuselage fell more than six miles to the ground. Tree cover and snow cushioned the impact, allowing her to survive a fall that would have otherwise been fatal.
Survival and Recovery
Vulovic’s injuries were catastrophic: a fractured skull, broken legs, three vertebrae, and a damaged pelvis. She spent 10 days in a coma at a local hospital. When she recovered, she told The New York Times in 2008:
‘I was broken, and the doctors put me back together again. Nobody ever expected me to live this long.‘
She later reflected on her survival with a mix of humor and gratitude:
‘I am like a cat,‘ she said before her death in 2016, adding, ‘I have had nine lives.‘
Life After the Crash
After the crash, Vulovic began a new career at Yugoslav Airlines in an office role. She worked there for 18 years before being forced to retire following her demonstration against President Slobodan Milosevic. The president died in jail while being tried for war crimes.
She turned to religion for solace, stating in 2008:
‘It also made me an optimist, because if you can survive what I survived, you can survive anything.‘
In 2008, she also expressed political concerns:
‘I am like a cat,‘ she told the paper before President Boris Tadić won re-election. ‘I have had nine lives. But if nationalist forces in this country prevail, my heart will burst.‘
Legacy and Record
In 1985, Paul McCartney presented Vulovic with a certificate and a medal at the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame ceremony for her record-setting fall. A spokesperson for Guinness confirmed that she still holds the title today.
In 2009, investigative journalists suggested the aircraft may have been accidentally shot down by the Czechoslovak Air Force, a theory that had not been pursued in the original investigation.
In 2022, a remembrance ceremony was held at the crash site in Srbska Kamenice, Czech Republic, honoring her memory.
Vulovic’s story remains a testament to human endurance and the unpredictable nature of life’s challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Vesna Vulovic survived a 33,000-foot fall, a world record that still stands.
- Her recovery involved severe injuries and a prolonged coma, yet she lived to 66.
- She continued to serve her country, engaged in political activism, and received international recognition.
- Her legacy is commemorated through memorials, awards, and the enduring record she holds.
