NTSB and FAA Investigating Failed Red Bull Plane Swap

When this started yesterday, I checked for any restricted airspace. Welp, that explains why I could not find a single restriction or NOTAM related to this flight. Not even one for skydiving for AZ04 during that time.

This is the social media world that we live in: how many "likes" and "views" can we get? very sad, and also very confusing. A popular YouTube pilot that is so adamant about safety says that he saw "no problem" with this stunt and that they were "safe". Ok, except they CHOSE to go ahead even without the FAA approval, so in violating the FARs they had to know what the consequences were going to be. so what other FARs can we assume they were or are willing to go against? another perfectly good airplane gone for a view on the web.

One of the stunt dummies, Luke Aikins is the same nitwit who jumped from 25,000' without a parachute into a 100x100 ft net at Simi valley in 2016, willing to not only risk his life with such a foolhardy, ego driven, notoriety seeking stunt, but also willing to accept the possibility of leaving his wife and son without a husband and father. What could possibly go wrong?!?! After that insane stunt, and now this, Luke Aikins is STILL allowed to serve as one of the regional directors of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Someone with a warped, self-serving sense of fame and notoriety should not only be removed as a regional director of the USPA, but should also be banned as a member from the organization, and the USPA should be ashamed for allowing him to serve as regional director in the first place, and to continue to serve now! Further, after this latest hair brained and illegal stunt, Aikins should face legal and punitive consequences.

Pull both their medicals and slap a harsh penalty on Red Bull for this. What purpose did they have besides saying "we did it." It served no purpose other than a publicity stunt.

There's another disastrous wreck on view here: the English language. Hard to believe that ANY outlet, except maybe the Middle School Weekly Bugle, could allow that mess to see the light of day. The proverbial Infinite Number of Monkeys seated at their typewriters couldn't have shredded punctuation, syntax and plain ol' readability more effectively.

What Idiots1 They should both be Grounded for Life!

What's to investigate? Ridiculous, unapproved stunt went sideways. Wonder if the "pilots" and Red Bull still think it was worth it?

So, presumably the airframe insurance company will wash its hands of liability?

The irresponsible driver may need to set up a YouTube channel to appeal for donations...

More than four decades ago, the first instruction (at the time, called "strong advice as in don't f**k this up") which I received was "never - EVER - part company with a serviceable aircraft".

Still seems true today.

How many potential mid-air collisions did these f**kwits trigger!

Lifetime grounding - PLEASE, America!

Good. Those idiots should have their licenses pulled. Red Bull should also be prosecuted for allowing it to go on after the FAA denial.
RECOR10, there are a lot more cars out there then airplanes, not to mention the relative risk levels involved.

Forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission is a foolhardy and dangerous philosophy to have in the realm of aviation. Also, it does not apply if you already have requested and have been denied permission.

Gentleman & Ladies, this thread is filling with hate towards stupidity. I want to say most of us are unable to understand the mind of a parachutist. These adrenaline junkies must have been under extreme pressure from the Corporation RED BULL who sponsors these type of stunts ALL DAY LONG. On this occasion it must have been costing RED BULL upty up dollars a day for this "hollywood" stunt. These two pilots should never be allowed to fly again, the danger & risk to the public was off the charts & I know some body will say "it had an autoplit" an autopliot which failed. However, if they can redue this stunt with an autopilot which will self land the $299K C-182 that would be awesome.. Maybe next time fly down to puerto penasco & do the stunt over sea of Cortez. My thought is FAA will suspend for 6 months the license of one pilot, maybe both. They are not NASA, but what they do CAN benefit aviation in future, when down with more focus on SAFETY, everybodies safety.

Darwin Awards coming up…. maybe there was some thought put into this after all.

Duh… the only constant in aviation is one up manship..

The only thing is to add "OF ART" and leave you to change the space's location.

Only in Amerika

Good God, what a horribly written article. Is English not the author's first language or is this just more of what we've come to expect from "journalists" these days??

IMO, Red Bullsh*t is a joke. Not a single brain cell in their corporate heads.
And to think it all started with cliff diving.

Too risky for both themselves and people and property on the ground. It's called reckless operation of an aircraft. The FAA should never have allowed it.