Skydiver Luke Aikens became the first person ever to jump out of a plane and into a net on the ground without utilizing a parachute Saturday.
(FOX)- After falling 25,000 feet through the air, which took approximately two minutes, the 42-year-old Aikens flipped on his back at the last second, hit the 100-by-100-foot net perfectly, quickly climbed out of it and walked over to hug his wife Monica.
“I’m almost levitating, it’s incredible,” the jubilant skydiver said, raising his hands over his head as his wife held their son, who dozed in her arms.
“This thing just happened! I can’t even get the words out of my mouth,” he added as he thanked the dozens of crew members who spent two years helping him prepare for the jump, including those who assembled the fishing trawler-like net and made sure it really worked.
The jump took place at the Big Sky movie ranch on the outskirts of Simi Valley, Calif. and was broadcast on the Fox network as part of a one-hour special
The stunt nearly didn’t come off as planned when Aikins revealed just before climbing into his plane that the Screen Actors Guild had ordered him to wear a parachute to ensure his safety.
Producers for the show were not immediately available to elaborate on the restriction.
He said he considered pulling out at that point because having the parachute canister on his back would make his landing in the net far more dangerous. If he had to wear it he said he wouldn’t bother to pull the ripcord anyway.