71-Year-Old Kerala Woman Goes Skydiving From 13,000 Ft In Dubai, Shattering Stereotypes!

Some dreams start small. For Leela Jose, a 71-year-old from Konnathady in Kerala’s Idukki district, her skydiving dream began years ago with the sound of aeroplanes cutting across the sky. Watching them disappear into the clouds, she casually told her friends, “How much fun it would be to do skydiving!” Of course, most of them laughed it off. After all, who expects a grandmother to jump out of a plane at 13,000 feet? But Leela kept her dream tucked away. She didn’t forget, and she certainly didn’t let age shut the door on it.

71-Year-Old Kerala Woman Skydives From 13,000 Ft In Dubai, Proving Age Is Just A Number

Last month, while visiting her son Anish in Dubai, Leela decided it was now or never. When she told him she wanted to skydive, his first reaction wasn’t encouragement; it was disbelief. “He thought I had gone senile,” Leela laughed while recalling the moment. But once he realised she wasn’t joking, Anish got to work.

He booked a tandem skydive with a Dubai team. For the uninitiated, a tandem jump means you’re strapped to an experienced instructor who controls the parachute, perfect for first-timers. The crew themselves were surprised to see a 71-year-old walk in ready to leap. Anish, meanwhile, spent close to Rs 2 lakh on the flight, guide, and videography to make sure his mother’s bucket-list adventure was captured in style.

71-Year-Old’s Skydiving Experience Of A Lifetime

Leela described the moment with a mix of wonder and honesty. The freefall was part exhilaration, part fear, and a whole lot of pure joy. “At one point, I felt weightless and let go of all thoughts,” she said. When the parachute finally opened at 6,000 feet, she knew the landing was going to be safe and the dream, finally fulfilled.

Back in Idukki, her friends couldn’t believe what they saw in the videos and photos she brought home. “They were aghast at first, but then they hugged me and praised my determination,” she recalled with a smile.

What’s Next? Space, Maybe

And because some people never stop dreaming, Leela already has her eyes on a new frontier. “I wish to go to space, if possible. If age is not a hindrance, I want to appeal to ISRO to consider my wish.” Bold words, but then again, she just leapt out of an aircraft at 13,000 feet. Who’s going to doubt her now?

She credits her late father, Maanikutty, an officer in the Indian Army, for instilling the courage to chase what others thought impossible.

Not The Only Trailblazer

Leela’s daring feat comes hot on the heels of another inspiring story. In July, Dr Shraddha Chauhan, aged 80 and mother of retired Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, became the oldest Indian woman to skydive. She made her tandem jump from 10,000 feet in Narnaul, Haryana, calling it the fulfilment of her lifelong wish to fly like an aeroplane. Two women, two generations, and one shared message: adventure has no age limit.

Also Read: ‘Dubai Mein Humare Paise Doob Gaye!’ Archana Puran Singh’s Family Falls Victim to Skydiving Scam

An Inspiration for All Ages

Truth be told, stories like Leela’s are infectious. They challenge the idea that thrill-seeking is only for the young. They show us that courage doesn’t check your date of birth. Whether it’s a 71-year-old in Dubai going skydiving or an 80-year-old in Haryana, these women prove that the sky, quite literally, is not the limit.

Cover Image Courtesy: SkyDive Dubai/Website