(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Hundreds of skydivers are trying to make history in the skies southwest of Chicago this week.
Two hundred skydivers are trying to break the world record for the largest free-fall formation.
The jumpers will link up in the sky over Ottawa, Illinois while falling at 180 mph.
Their goal is to break the record set by a 164-person formation in 2015.
Tracey Holeman, an instructor and events manager at Sky-Dive Chicago in Ottawa, tells WBBM Newsradio they have been trying several times a day since Monday.
So far, about 150 people have been able to link up, with the other 50 falling short. But they’re close.
"The extra 50 people that just haven't held on yet? They are all right there. They just need to be able to reach out and touch the person next to them. So, it's getting really close," Holeman said.
Some skydivers have been asked to leave, and they have been replaced by alternates.
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