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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Survivors

Vesna Vulović

Vesna Vulović was a Serbian and Yugoslav flight attendant who became known for surviving the highest fall without a parachute, after the 1972 crash of JAT Flight 367.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Vesna Vulović was a Serbian and Yugoslav flight attendant who survived the highest fall without a parachute after the 1972 crash of JAT Flight 367. Guinness World Records recognized her feat in 1985.

What it is

Vesna Vulović is best known as the sole survivor of the 1972 JAT Flight 367 bombing and for holding the Guinness World Record for the highest fall survived without a parachute — 10,160 metres. She was a flight attendant for JAT Yugoslav Airlines.

Key details

On 26 January 1972, a bomb exploded aboard JAT Flight 367 over Czechoslovakia, causing the aircraft to break apart. Vulović was the only survivor among passengers and crew. She was hospitalized for a long period and later recognized by Guinness in 1985.

Why it matters

Vulović's survival became one of the most remarkable aviation stories, demonstrating extraordinary resilience. Her record remains a benchmark in survival lore, and she is remembered as a symbol of unlikely survival.

In short

  • Sole survivor of JAT Flight 367 bombing (1972)
  • Guinness World Record for highest fall without parachute (10,160 m)
  • Died in Belgrade in 2016 at age 66
  • Her story is a famous aviation survival case

Quick questions

Who was Vesna Vulović?
She was a Serbian and Yugoslav flight attendant known for surviving the 1972 JAT Flight 367 crash and a record-setting fall.
What record is she known for?
Guinness World Records recognized her for surviving the highest fall without a parachute, 10,160 metres.
Was she the only survivor?
Yes, she was the sole survivor of the JAT Flight 367 disaster.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesna_Vulovi%C4%87
    Supports: Birth, death, occupation, survival details, and Guinness recognition
  2. BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38427411
    Supports: Death notice and high-fall survival context
  3. Wikipedia (German)https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesna_Vulovi%C4%87
    Supports: Sole survivor details, fall height, and accident overview
  4. Wikipedia (French)https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesna_Vulovi%C4%87
    Supports: Unique survivor of JAT Flight 367 and Guinness record