Skydiver Becomes First Person to Jump and Land Without Chute

A 42-year-old skydiver with more than 18,000 jumps made history when he became the first person to leap without a parachute and land in a net instead.

Skydiver Luke Aikins signals to pilot Aaron Fitzgerald as he prepares to jump from a helicopter in Simi Valley, Calif., on July 25, 2016. After months of training, this elite skydiver says he's ready to leave his chute in the plane when he bails out 25,000 feet over Simi Valley on Saturday. That's right, no parachute, no wingsuit, and no fellow skydiver with an extra one to hand him in mid-air. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

LOS ANGELES—A 42-year-old skydiver with more than 18,000 jumps made history when he became the first person to leap without a parachute and land in a net instead.

After a two-minute freefall, Luke Aikins landed dead center in the 100-by-100-foot net Saturday at the Big Sky movie ranch on the outskirts of Simi Valley.

Skydiver Luke Aikins prepares his parachute during his training in Simi Valley, Calif., on July 25, 2016. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong