Of course, there is an upper limit, set by how far up we can actually travel before we die from the effects of atmospheric change – which come into play at around 60,000 feet. So, how high is too high? In theory, we could survive falls of up to 60, 70, or even 80,000 feet, under exceptionally fortunate circumstances.

There is no definitive "safe" maximum height, as survival depends heavily on the landing surface, body orientation, and the presence of obstacles that might break the fall. However, scientific data suggests that falls from heights greater than 100 feet (approximately 10 stories) are associated with a nearly 100% mortality rate when landing on a hard surface like concrete. At this height, a human body approaches terminal velocity—roughly 120 mph—where the force of impact is almost always fatal to internal organs and the skeletal structure. Miraculously, there are extreme outliers: in 1972, flight attendant Vesna Vulović survived a fall from 33,330 feet after an airplane explosion, though her fall was likely cushioned by the aircraft tail section and snow. More commonly, skydivers whose parachutes failed have survived falls from several thousand feet by landing in deep snow, thick forest canopies, or steep marshy slopes. Generally, anything above 3 stories (30 feet) carries a significant risk of critical injury, and survival beyond 8 to 10 stories is considered a medical miracle rather than a statistical probability.