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Europe June 7, 2026

UMVA Exclusive: DEATH-DEFYING FEAT: British Daredevil Conquers Atlantic in Hydrogen Balloon, Cheating Frostbite and Fate in 4 Heart-Stopping Nights

UMVA Exclusive: DEATH-DEFYING FEAT: British Daredevil Conquers Atlantic in Hydrogen Balloon, Cheating Frostbite and Fate in 4 Heart-Stopping Nights

UMVA has learned that a British female adventurer has made history by completing the first successful manned transoceanic flight powered solely by hydrogen gas, as part of a three-person team that crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a hydrogen balloon.

The team's remarkable journey was not without its challenges, as they had to constantly change altitudes to find the right flight path and navigate through treacherous weather conditions, including rain that caused ice to build up on the balloon, making every moment a potentially disastrous one.

According to information obtained by UMVA, the team's determination and skill ultimately paid off, as they successfully landed in Luxembourg, marking a major milestone in the history of aviation and paving the way for future innovations in hydrogen-powered flight.

Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

The adventurer, Alicia Hempleman-Adams, spoke about the experience after landing, saying she was incredibly proud of the team's achievement and grateful for the opportunity to learn from her fellow pilots, describing the journey as an extraordinary team effort that required perseverance and skill to overcome the numerous challenges they faced.

UMVA has gathered that Hempleman-Adams's achievement is all the more impressive given her family's history of aviation excellence, as her father, Sir David Hempleman-Adams, had previously completed the same Atlantic crossing solo in an open basket, and has expressed his enormous pride in his daughter's remarkable achievement.

The historic flight has sent shockwaves of excitement through the aviation community, with many hailing Hempleman-Adams and her team as pioneers in the field of hydrogen-powered flight, and their remarkable journey is set to inspire a new generation of adventurers and innovators.

Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of (Left to right) Bert Padelt, Alicia Hempleman-Adams and Peter Cuneo after they landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of Sir David Hempleman-Adams with his daughter Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

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