BERN, Switzerland (BN24) — Kirk Hawkins, the founder and CEO of ICON Aircraft and a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, died Tuesday in a wingsuit accident in the Swiss Alps after colliding with trees during a high-altitude jump near the Eiger summit. He was 58.
Hawkins had jumped from a helicopter along with three other wingsuit flyers near the Eiger peak on August 19. According to Swiss police, the American entrepreneur crashed west of the Schüssellouwinegraben area and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other participants reportedly landed safely.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, which marks another fatal incident in the extreme sport of wingsuit flying, known for its high risks and breathtaking descents.
Hawkins, who co-founded ICON Aircraft in 2006 with his business partner Steen Strand, was widely known as a visionary in the aviation world. The California-based company gained attention for the development of the ICON A5, a sleek light sport aircraft designed to be user-friendly and amphibious. The aircraft, priced at around $389,000, drew praise for its innovative design and was aimed at making flying more accessible to adventure-seekers.
In an emotional tribute shared on LinkedIn, Strand mourned the loss of his longtime friend and collaborator. “I have devastating news to share. We lost Kirk, my close friend and partner at ICON Aircraft, to a wingsuit accident in Switzerland,” he wrote.
Strand described Hawkins as “the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known—or ever will know,” recalling his journey from modest beginnings to an accomplished career that included degrees from Clemson and Stanford, as well as a role flying F-16s in the U.S. Air Force.
“He devoured life experiences most of us would never touch,” Strand wrote. “He was damn good at assessing risks, probably because he took so many. He’d get you into tricky situations, but he’s also the one you wanted beside you when things got dicey.”
Hawkins’ daring approach to life was evident in both his professional and personal pursuits. His death in the Swiss Alps underscores the perils of extreme sports, particularly wingsuit flying, which involves soaring at high speeds in a special jumpsuit designed to mimic human flight.
Local authorities have not released further details regarding the cause of the accident but confirmed that a full investigation is underway.
The loss of Hawkins is being felt deeply across the aviation and adventure communities, where he was seen as both a pioneer and a risk-taker. His legacy at ICON Aircraft, particularly the development of the A5 light sport aircraft, remains a significant contribution to the future of personal aviation.
