Swiss Authorities Close Investigation Into Death of Champion Scottish Wingsuit Flyer Liam Byrne

Swiss federal prosecutors have confirmed that they will not pursue any criminal proceedings in connection with the death of a Scottish wingsuit flyer who suffered fatal injuries during a jump in the Alps last year.

Liam Byrne, a 24-year-old British champion in the sport, died after an accident on the Gitschen mountain in Switzerland in June 2025. He had launched from an altitude of approximately 7,874 feet (2,400 metres) before the incident occurred.

The decision to drop the case was outlined in documents from the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office, which were reviewed by BBC Scotland News. The papers show that officials concluded there was no basis to continue with an investigation into potential criminal wrongdoing.

Byrne, who was from Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, had established himself as one of the most experienced and respected figures in the wingsuit community. He had previously been the subject of a 2024 BBC documentary titled "The Boy Who Can Fly," which charted his extraordinary journey through extreme sports.

Wingsuit flying is a specialised form of skydiving in which participants wear a suit featuring fabric webbing between the arms and legs. This design creates lift and allows the flyer to manoeuvre through the air at high speeds before deploying a parachute. The discipline is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous activities in the world of extreme sport.

According to the prosecutor's report, the first two wingsuit jumpers in Byrne's group had landed safely without any issues. However, the report states that Byrne subsequently collided with the mountainside, sustaining injuries that proved fatal.

The document explained that proceedings would be discontinued in the absence of sufficient evidence pointing to criminal suspicion, such as knowingly placing life in danger. It noted that the crash was, with a high degree of probability, the result of an inescapable situation caused by insufficient lift combined with low altitude above the ground.

The report also stated that there were no indications of any criminal acts by third parties that might have contributed to the crash. Furthermore, investigators found no evidence of a pre-existing technical defect in the equipment Byrne had been using at the time of the accident.

The findings bring to a close the formal inquiry into the circumstances of the tragedy. Swiss authorities had opened the investigation as a matter of routine following the fatal incident, but the evidence gathered did not meet the threshold required to pursue a criminal case.

Byrne's death prompted an outpouring of grief from the extreme sports community and beyond. His family issued a statement at the time paying tribute to his character and the way he approached life, describing him as someone who was fearless not because he lacked fear but because he refused to allow it to hold him back.

The family said he chased life in a manner that most people only dream of, adding that he soared. They explained that skydiving and base jumping were more than just a thrill for him, representing freedom and a place where he felt most alive.

The statement also asked that Liam be remembered not only for the way he left the world, but for how he lived within it. The tribute resonated widely, capturing the spirit of a young man who had devoted himself to pursuits that many consider beyond reach.

Byrne's passion for adventure began at a young age. He told the BBC documentary that he was around 13 years old when he first expressed to his father a desire to learn to fly like a bird.

That ambition was matched by an early appetite for physical challenges. At just 12 years old, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, which stands at 19,341 feet (5,895 metres). The achievement marked the beginning of a pattern of daring expeditions.

His adventures expanded to include dog-sledging through the Arctic, scuba diving, and a series of high-altitude summit climbs. By the age of 14, he had obtained a paragliding licence, demonstrating a precocious talent for aerial sports.

He completed his first skydive at 16 and had progressed to wingsuit flying by the age of 18. Byrne described the wingsuit as a second skin that allowed him to move through the air in a controlled manner, reflecting the deep connection he felt with flight.

Over the course of his career, he completed thousands of jumps, a statistic that underscored both his vast experience and his dedication to the discipline. His reputation as a British champion in the sport made his death a significant loss to the wingsuit community.

The Swiss prosecutor's report provides the most detailed account to date of the final moments of the flight. Its conclusion that the accident was most likely unavoidable offers some clarity for those seeking to understand how such an experienced flyer could have been involved in a fatal crash.

Wingsuit flying carries inherent risks that are difficult to eliminate entirely. Even highly skilled practitioners can encounter situations where altitude, speed, and aerodynamic conditions leave no margin for recovery. The report's emphasis on insufficient lift and low altitude highlights the unforgiving nature of the environment in which these athletes operate.

The discontinuation of the investigation means no individuals or organisations will face criminal liability in connection with Byrne's death. The focus now shifts to the legacy of a flyer whose short life was defined by an extraordinary range of achievements.

For his family and friends, the closure of the legal process may provide a measure of certainty, though it cannot diminish the loss. Their earlier words remain a testament to a young man who pursued his dreams with rare determination and found his greatest sense of freedom in the sky.