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.

More from International

At least 14 killed in explosion at weapons depot in Syria

At least 14 people were killed and 11 wounded on Wednesday in an explosion at a temporary site used to store weapons and remnants of war near the Syrian city of Sarmada in Idlib province, state television reported.
US hits five Iranian oil tankers after attack on Navy ships

The United States has destroyed five Iranian oil carriers on Tuesday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted its navy warship with ballistic missiles "twice over the past two days".
UK gives air traffic provider a week to probe outage that halted flights

Britain's NATS air traffic control provider has a week to investigate the systems failure that halted flights and stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers, the government said, as pressure mounts on its chief executive.
Serbia's President Vucic dissolves parliament, calls snap elections

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday dissolved parliament and announced snap elections for next month as he seeks to extend his hold on power by running for prime minister.
With large crowds attending, Norway lays King Harald to rest

Norway's King Harald Vwas being laid to rest on Wednesday, in a series of ceremonies marking the culmination of 13 days of national mourning following his death at the age of 89.