Kirk Hawkins, the 58-year-old founder of American aircraft company ICON Aircraft, tragically died after hitting trees during a wingsuit jump in the Swiss Alps.
Hawkins jumped from a helicopter near the Eiger summit on Tuesday, August 19, along with three other people. Sadly, he crashed into trees and lost his life.
Authorities confirmed that Hawkins died west of Schüssellouwinegraben. Local police said the incident will be formally investigated.
Hawkins co-founded ICON Aircraft in 2006 with his close friend Steen Strand. Their company became well-known for the A5 light sport aircraft, which was priced at around $389,000 (£288,000) when it first launched.
Strand shared the heartbreaking news on LinkedIn, calling Hawkins “the most extraordinary person” he had ever known. He recalled how Kirk started life with very little and went on to achieve great success at Clemson, Stanford, and as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot.
Strand highlighted how Hawkins loved life and was willing to take risks. “He’d put you in tricky situations, but he was the one you wanted beside you when things got dangerous,” he wrote. He imagined that in his final moments, Hawkins knew what was coming and faced it with a smile.
Kirk Hawkins leaves behind a legacy of adventure, innovation, and courage. Together with Strand, he created the A5 aircraft, which is still seen as a symbol of his daring and creativity.
