Indians Set Skydive Record at 13,000ft
Three Indian expats based in the UAE have achieved a Guinness World Record for the most skydivers jumping together with national flags from a single aircraft. Jamsheer Thanalot from Kerala, Abhishek Rawat from Uttar Pradesh, and Isha Raj from Bihar were part of a 65-strong team of international skydivers who jumped from a Military Ilyushin Il-76TD aircraft at 13,000 feet in Libya on August 7. The Indian trio, all part of the skydiving community in the UAE, carried their own national flag during the jump, which was officially confirmed as a Guinness World Record on August 14, just before India’s 80th Independence Day.
The feat was especially demanding due to the large number of skydivers and the need for simultaneous exit from the aircraft, with each skydiver required to land within a designated zone. Abhishek Rawat, a product design lead and skydiving coach, and his wife Isha Raj, an account director, were among the Indian expats who achieved this record, bringing a personal dimension to the achievement as husband-and-wife skydiving partners. Jamsheer Thanalot, who runs an e-commerce business in Dubai, credited veteran Emirati skydiver Saif Matar for boosting his morale during the attempt.
The record attempt was made on the eve of India’s 80th Independence Day, adding an extra layer of pride for the Indian expats. The trio had travelled to Libya on August 5 and carried out three trial jumps before being cleared for the final attempt. With over 1,500 combined jumps between them, the Indian expats were able to pull off the feat despite the pressure and risk involved.
This achievement is connected to a prior story of Indian expats in the UAE making notable contributions to the country’s sports and cultural scene.
