Michael Fournier, 64, a retired French paratrooper, planned to jump from a capsule beneath a helium-filled balloon at an altitude of 130,000 feet (40,000 meters) to become the first person to freefall faster than the speed of sound.

The skydiver wanted to break the world free fall record, but he failed to get off the ground when his balloon lifted off without him on board. His capsule failed to leave the ground because the balloon detached itself while being inflated. He was hoping to break the record for the fastest and longest free fall, the highest parachute jump and the highest balloon flight.  

The France government refused to give him permission to make the jump in France, saying it was too dangerous. The place chosen for his jump was North Batlefort in western Canada’s Saskatchewan province. Fournier had planned to land some 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of North Battleford. There, after the landing, a helicopter was to have picked him up.

He had two earlier unsuccessful attempts, in 2002 and 2003.His record-breaking bid failed in 2002 due to poor weather, and in 2003 when wind gusts shredded his balloon before it even became airborne.

The current altitude record for a parachute jump is held by Colonel Joe Kittinger of the US Air Force. In 1960 he jumped from 31,333 metres (102,800 feet).