Indoor skydiving is one of the safer adventure activities you can try, but it’s not completely risk-free. The most common injuries involve the shoulder joint, and the forces inside a vertical wind tunnel are strong enough to cause dislocations and strains, particularly if you move incorrectly. That said, serious injuries are uncommon for first-timers following instructor guidance, and the activity lacks the major hazards of actual skydiving: no parachute failures, no freefall from altitude, no hard landings.
How It Compares to Outdoor Skydiving
Traditional skydiving produces between 48 and 174 injuries per 100,000 jumps, based on data from Sweden and the World Freefall Convention. No equivalent injury rate has been established for indoor skydiving because the sport is newer and tracking is less standardized. What we do know is that the risk profile shifts significantly when you move the experience indoors. You eliminate landing injuries, canopy malfunctions, and mid-air collisions with other jumpers. You also eliminate fatality risk for all practical purposes.
The tradeoff is that indoor tunnels concentrate one specific hazard: the high-speed airstream pushing against your body in a confined space. In outdoor skydiving, shoulder injuries account for roughly 4% to 5% of all injuries. Indoors, that number jumps dramatically. One analysis found that 51% of reported indoor skydiving injuries involved the shoulder joint. The airstream in a tunnel can reach speeds over 100 mph, and an arm that drifts out of position gets caught by tremendous force.
The Most Common Injuries
Shoulder dislocations are the signature injury of indoor skydiving. They happen when the wind catches an outstretched arm and forces it beyond its normal range of motion. The anterior dislocation, where the upper arm bone pops forward out of the socket, is the most frequently reported type. This is particularly a concern for people who have dislocated a shoulder before, since the joint becomes less stable after each occurrence.
Beyond shoulders, flyers can experience muscle strains in the neck, back, and core from holding an arched body position against strong wind. Minor bumps and bruises from contact with the tunnel walls or floor are possible, though instructors actively work to prevent this. Ear discomfort from wind noise and pressure is another common complaint, which is why most facilities provide or require earplugs.
What Keeps You Safe in the Tunnel
Facilities like iFLY use a layered safety system. Before your flight, you go through a briefing covering proper body position and the hand signals your instructor will use to communicate over the noise. The correct position, a relaxed arch with your chin up and arms bent, keeps the airstream flowing smoothly across your body rather than catching a limb at a bad angle.
During the flight itself, an instructor stays inside the tunnel with you. They physically guide you using handles built into the flight suit you wear over your clothes. If you start drifting toward a wall or losing stability, they grab a handle and reposition you. For first-time flyers, the wind speed is typically kept at a lower setting, further reducing the forces on your body.
You’ll be asked to remove all jewelry, watches, and loose accessories before flying. Anything that could flap in the wind or fly off becomes a projectile hazard inside the tunnel. Goggles protect your eyes, a helmet protects your head, and lace-up sneakers keep your feet secure. If you wear glasses, oversized goggles that fit over them are available.
Who Should Be Cautious
People with a history of shoulder dislocations face the highest injury risk in a wind tunnel. If your shoulder has come out of its socket before, the forces involved in indoor skydiving are strong enough to make it happen again. Previous neck or back injuries also warrant caution, since you’ll be holding an arched position against significant wind resistance.
Heart conditions and pregnancy are the two most commonly cited medical restrictions. While one review noted that wind tunnel training could be a “lesser risk alternative” to actual skydiving during pregnancy, the general recommendation remains to avoid it. Most facilities ask you to sign a health declaration and will turn away anyone with recent surgeries, severe back problems, or cardiac issues.
Is It Safe for Kids?
Children as young as five can fly at many facilities. Kids are lighter, which means the tunnel needs less wind speed to keep them aloft, and instructors maintain close physical contact throughout. If a child becomes scared or overwhelmed, instructors can reduce the airflow or end the session immediately.
The risk of wall impact is minimal at the low speeds used for children. One facility describes the sensation as floating weightlessly, comparing it to astronauts on the space station. Parents are sometimes invited into the preparation area to help younger children who can’t yet read the safety briefing materials on their own. The bigger concern with very young kids tends to be fear rather than physical danger. If your child is easily startled by loud noises or unfamiliar sensations, it’s worth preparing them for what the experience feels like before booking.
How to Reduce Your Risk
Most indoor skydiving injuries happen when a flyer resists the instructor’s guidance or moves their arms too aggressively. The single most important thing you can do is keep your arms bent and close to your body rather than reaching out. A straight arm in a 100 mph airstream acts as a lever with your shoulder as the pivot point.
Listen to the pre-flight briefing carefully, even if it feels like a formality. The hand signals your instructor uses are the only way they can communicate with you during the flight, so recognizing them matters. Stay relaxed in your body. Tensing up makes you less stable and more likely to fight against the air rather than float on it. If you have any joint issues, especially in the shoulders, mention them to your instructor before the session so they can adjust wind speed and keep closer contact during your flight.