Shekhawat, an adventure enthusiast, took a tandem skydive from a plane flying at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. After being strapped to an experienced skydiving instructor, the minister leapt out of the aircraft, free-falling for nearly a minute before deploying his parachute for a smooth landing.
The minister’s skydive was part of the festivities marking World Skydiving Day in Narnaul, home to India’s newest skydiving center.Shekhawat was on hand to flag off a new skydiving aircraft and participate in the adrenaline-filled activity.
“Today is very important for India and the world. It is important for India because the very first private skydiving facility has opened in Narnaul. It is important for the world because World Skydiving Day commences today on. Being India’s Tourism Minister, it is my responsibility to ensure the availability of facilities for everyone to experience them,” he told reporters
Footage showed the minister’s excitement as he jumped out of the plane, arms outstretched, before gracefully descending to the ground. Shekhawat later expressed his exhilaration on social media, calling the experience “truly exhilarating”.
“Truly exhilarating! On the occasion of World Skydiving Day, had the pleasure of flagging off the new skydiving aircraft and taking a tandem skydive this morning at Skyhigh—India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana. For new and adventurous Bharat, the skies too are no limit,” he said in a post on X.
The minister’s skydive was a high-profile endorsement of India’s growing adventure tourism industry. By personally participating, Shekhawat aimed to promote skydiving and draw more visitors to the new facility in Narnaul.