Thai Academic Becomes First Person to Skydive onto World's Highest Volcano

A Thai academic has just become the first human being to successfully parachute onto the summit of Ojos del Salado, the world's highest volcano located on the Chile-Argentina border. The Guinness World Records certification arrived on March 25, 2026, validating an achievement that had never been accomplished before.

The Achievement

Associate Professor Dr. Tanaboworn Sirikunakornkun executed this historic skydive with support from experienced international partners Paul Henry de Baere and Nadia de Baere. The landing at Ojos del Salado marks an unprecedented feat in extreme-altitude skydiving—no one had previously landed on this volcanic summit via parachute.

A Strategic Progression

Tanaboworn's journey toward this record followed a deliberate progression of high-altitude achievements. Three years prior, he deployed a 150-square-meter Thai national flag above Mount Everest. He then completed a documented jump above Antarctica certified by specialized operators. Each venture built upon the previous one, culminating in the technically demanding landing on Ojos del Salado.

National Pride and Representation

Tanaboworn explicitly framed his achievements around national pride and Thai representation on the world stage. He emphasized his education at King's College, Bangkok's premier institution, as part of the 27th alumni cohort—a generation with strong institutional ties to national governance and cultural traditions.

"This record is a contribution to Thailand's international reputation," Tanaboworn stated, describing his accomplishment as a demonstration of Thai courage and professional discipline. His explicit connection of personal achievement to national service resonates with how Thai public figures traditionally anchor individual accomplishments to broader national purpose.

What This Means

For Thailand, the Guinness certification provides international credibility in a specialized domain where the country had no previous foothold. The achievement demonstrates Thai capability in high-skill, technically demanding fields that require sophisticated preparation and professional execution at the world's highest margins.

The record opens doors for future expeditions, though Tanaboworn has not yet disclosed specific targets or timelines for additional attempts. Based on his established pattern, future achievements will likely continue to target locations of extreme or symbolic significance.

Whether the Thai government will formally recognize the achievement through official honors or awards remains to be seen. What is certain is that a Thai citizen now holds a Guinness World Records certification for an genuinely unprecedented accomplishment.