The aviator Jean Mermoz

In March 1929, Mermoz wanted to establish a route over the Andes. Pushed against the mountain by strong winds, Mermoz cut the engines and landed as best as he could on a snowy plateau at an altitude of 13,000 ft / 4,000 m.

The plane was damaged, Mermoz and his mechanic took three days and two nights to patch it up. Starving, they ended up launching the plane into the void.

The plane, in its fall, finally picked up some speed to obey the commands and after a few more adventures, the two men managed to reach Santiago de Chile.