Search ARN News Centre

'Flying' Frenchman fails to cross English Channel

Thursday, 25 July 2019 13:48

Franky Zapata stands on his jet-powered "flyboard" as he takes off from Sangatte [DENIS CHARLET / AFP]

A Frenchman has failed in his attempt to cross the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard.

Franky Zapata attempted the journey from Sangatte (France), hoping to reach Dover (England) in about 20 minutes, flying at up to 140 kph at an altitude of 15 to 20 metres.

But his team says he missed a landing platform mounted on a boat, where he was due to refuel.

The former jetski champion made the hoverboard himself using five small jet engines.

Zapata was making his attempt on the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight between Britain and France.

Share

More from International

  • Iranian President Raisi killed in helicopter accident, state media says

    Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.

  • ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli, Hamas leaders

    The International Criminal Court prosecutor's office said on Monday it had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence chief and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.

  • Assange given permission to appeal against US extradition

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was given permission to have a full appeal over his extradition to the United States after arguing at London's High Court on Monday he might not be able to rely on his right to free speech at a trial.

  • Israel intends to broaden Rafah sweep, Defence Minister tells US

    Israel intends to broaden its military operation in Rafah, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday told a senior aide to US President Joe Biden, who has warned against major action in the southern Gazan city that may risk mass civilian casualties. Israel describes Rafah, which abuts the Gaza Strip's border with the Egyptian Sinai, as the last stronghold of Hamas Islamists whose governing and combat capabilities it has been trying to dismantle during the more than seven-month-old war. After weeks of public disagreements with Washington over the Rafah planning, Israel on May 6 ordered Pale

  • New Taiwanese president calls on China to stop threats

    Taiwan President Lai Ching-te asked China on Monday to stop its military and political threats, saying in his inauguration speech that peace is the only choice and that Beijing had to respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.

Latest Local News

News

Quick Links

Get the app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play

© 2024 ARN and Aiir. All Rights Reserved.