KlasJet employee breaks three national records in single high-altitude jump

Aleksej Zelenkov, a duty manager at KlasJet, an exclusive private and corporate jet charter company, has broken three Lithuanian skydiving records in a single jump from 7,620 meters during a specialized high-altitude event in Herning, Denmark this August. The achievement included setting new Lithuanian records for the highest skydive, longest canopy flight duration at approximately 13 minutes, and the highest altitude display of the Lithuanian flag.

“The conditions of the jump were genuinely extreme – the temperature was -37 degrees Celsius, and I needed an oxygen source. Unlike my previous high-altitude jump with freefall, this time I deployed the parachute immediately after exit, which meant feeling the full force of that cold instantly. My hands and feet went numb almost immediately,” Zelenkov remembers.

Zelenkov’s connection to aviation runs deep – his father worked in aircraft spare parts trading, and his mother flew paragliders. This lifelong passion led him to his current role at KlasJet, where he coordinates flight operations for the company’s fleet of business jets. The company, which provides charter services globally, has actively supported Zelenkov’s skydiving ambitions.

“The support from KlasJet has been incredible,” Zelenkov notes. “During the record jump, I deployed two flags – the Lithuanian flag and the KlasJet flag. Having that level of trust and backing from my employer and colleagues – some of whom have even come to the aerodrome to try tandem jumps themselves – is what drives me forward.”

Zelenkov executed the jump during a specialized high-altitude event in Denmark, one of the few opportunities in Europe for civilian skydivers to reach such heights. After completing a freefall jump from 7,500 meters the previous year, he decided to attempt something more challenging – an immediate canopy deployment from an even higher altitude.

Zelenkov’s journey to becoming a licensed skydiver began just four years ago. Since earning his sporting license after 25 jumps, Zelenkov practices nearly every weekend, viewing each jump as a training opportunity for the next challenge. He also sees himself as a skydiving instructor in the nearest future. To start training others, he needs to have 500 jumps under his belt, and at the moment he is just a few dozen jumps short of this threshold.

The connection between his professional life at KlasJet and his skydiving pursuits has allowed his passion for aviation to extend far beyond the office. With this support system in place, Zelenkov has set his sights even higher, and aims to break the 10 kilometer barrier at some point in the future, a feat achieved only by a handful of skydivers.

“It's an absolute pleasure and privilege to be surrounded by people who understand the draw aviation has. At KlasJet, we're all passionate about flight in different ways. Some of my colleagues are now considering taking up skydiving themselves – who knows, maybe one day we’ll even have our own skydiving team.”