Kirk Hawkins, the 58-year-old cofounder and former CEO of Icon Aircraft, died August 19, 2025, in a wingsuit accident in the Swiss Alps. The former U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot jumped from a helicopter with three other wingsuit divers near the 13,015-foot peak of the Eiger before colliding with trees and crashing to the ground.
Swiss authorities confirmed the American national died after striking trees west of Schüssellouwinegraben while gliding along the mountain’s east ridge. Emergency teams, including Rega air rescue and Alpine Rescue Switzerland, were deployed to the scene but Hawkins was pronounced dead upon their arrival. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the crash.
Hawkins’ death was announced by his longtime friend and business partner Steen Strand in a LinkedIn post. Strand described Hawkins as “the most extraordinary person I’ve ever known, or ever will know.” The cofounder indicated that Hawkins started life with nothing and climbed to the top, attending Clemson University and Stanford University before serving in the Air Force and returning to Stanford for business school.
The two men cofounded Icon Aircraft in 2006 to develop the amphibious A5 light sport aircraft. Hawkins, who held master’s degrees in engineering and business from Stanford University, led the company as CEO from its inception until November 2018, when he was forced out. The innovative seaplane carried a price tag of approximately $389,000 when it launched.
Strand characterized Hawkins as someone who devoured life experiences most people would never attempt. He noted that Hawkins was skilled at assessing risks, likely because he took so many throughout his life. The business partner described how Hawkins would lead others into challenging situations but was also the person you would want beside you when circumstances became difficult.
The Icon A5 aircraft became involved in several accidents that raised safety questions, though investigators attributed the incidents to pilot error. In 2017, former Major League Baseball player Roy “Doc” Halladay died at age 40 while flying an Icon A5 that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida. Hawkins remained as CEO for another year following Halladay’s fatal accident before departing the company.
Icon Aircraft is now owned by the ShangGong Group based in Shanghai, China, which also recently acquired Flight Design. The company began aircraft deliveries in 2016, less than a year before the fatal accident involving the former Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher.
Strand’s tribute revealed that Hawkins had become more philosophical and emotional in recent years, consistently working to evolve into a better version of himself. The business partner noted their professional relationship involved what he called “constructive conflict” that would concern modern human resources leaders, but he chose to work alongside Hawkins for over a decade because the partnership proved worthwhile.
The Eiger is considered one of the most iconic locations for wingsuit flying and base jumping, but the sport carries significantly higher fatality rates compared to traditional skydiving. The eastern ridge of the mountain attracts experienced wingsuit flyers from around the world, though the challenging terrain presents considerable risks.
Strand concluded his tribute by referencing a test pilot who, realizing he was seconds from death, maintained enough composure to radio a final message. He imagined that Hawkins, in his final moments, likely recognized what was happening and laughed one last time before the end. The business partner expressed that while Hawkins died doing something thrilling that he loved, he wished the accident had occurred 30 years later.
Local police in Grindelwald, the resort village overshadowed by the Eiger, have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the accident. The mountain’s dramatic north face, known as the Eiger Nordwand, has long attracted climbers and adventurers seeking extreme challenges in the Swiss Alps.
Hawkins had recently launched a new startup that Strand indicated was positioned to transform the world again, though specific details about the venture were not disclosed. The former Air Force pilot’s career spanned military service, aviation innovation, and extreme sports, reflecting his approach to pursuing challenging experiences throughout his life.
