While it's not impossible to play GTA Online passively, combat and random attacks are a common part of life in the online component of Grand Theft Auto 5. Whether it's warranted or not, getting blown up by other players is often inescapable.
That's part of what makes it such a satisfying experience when someone manages to endure an attack by another player. A video of one such event sees a player trying to participate in a GTA Online lobby challenge when they're suddenly attacked, only to survive with style and grace.
Redditor Aggressive_Finding_7 recently shared a video of the experience they had in a GTA Online lobby while driving around in a Toreador. The player was seemingly alone at LSIA, attempting to rank on a lobby challenge of reaching the highest speed possible in a land vehicle. After the Pegassi Toreador flips over and skids to a stop, they pop the boost, bouncing into the air. This is when the threat of a nearby player finally becomes apparent.
The attacking player is flying a jet and swoops in for the kill while the Toreador is hovering helplessly in mid-air. While the Toreador can boost its way into the sky, it can't really fly once it's up there, leaving Aggressive_Finding_7 at a disadvantage. To complicate matters, the attacker is utilizing Lester's Off the Radar service, which kept them hidden on the world map and prevented Aggressive_Finding_7 from seeing their approach in advance. While this could have ended terribly for them, instead the jet aims too low, spraying attacks directly beneath the Toreador. Just in time, inertia and gravity kick in, and the Toreador begins to fall, striking the jet and causing it to explode.
Aggressive_Finding_7 survives, drops to the ground in their Toreador, and pivots to look at the wreckage of the jet behind them. Judging from the HUD, it seems the pilot was attempting to get revenge after Aggressive_Finding_7 had landed a kill on them at some point prior to the recording. Those in the comments were quick to point out that this encounter must have infuriated the other player, though it's unclear if the feud continued after that point or not.
Players swooping in on a flying vehicle to attack or grief others in GTA Online is a common sight. The recent addition of anti-missile lock-on Imani Tech has helped to prevent players from being killed by Oppressor MK-II attacks, but encounters like these are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Those who think they have the upper hand by attacking with a jet may want to remain cautious, though, or they may find their plane taken out by a Terrorbyte, or maybe a flying Toreador, like this one.
GTA Online is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.