Etihad Airways Pulls ‘Mission Impossible’ Stunt With Skydiving Orchestra

In a move that’s part art, part aviation, Etihad Airways, Paramount Pictures, and advertising agency Impact BBDO have orchestrated a gravity-defying performance for the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. It’s a partnership that takes flight in a daring and unforgettable way.

13,000 feet above ground, a group of skilled skydivers, who also happen to be musicians, took on an Ethan Hunt-level stunt by playing the iconic Mission: Impossible theme while plummeting to Earth at 120 mph.

Of course, safety was a top priority, and custom rigging was used to secure instruments to the skydivers, ensuring the performers’ safety and the harmony of the music.

The crew spent weeks planning and practicing to ensure they could safely deploy their parachutes. A professional skydiving filming team was also sent out with them to capture the moment.

Given how performing in mid-air would pose quite a bit of a challenge instead of playing on a stage, the musicians had to memorize the piece by heart. Even then, to be able to synchronize with each other while falling to Earth is a truly commendable feat.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One was filmed against the backdrop of Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Midfield Terminal, further establishing a connection between the airlines and the movie.

Take a look at how the mid-air concert was achieved in the video below.

[via LBB Online and Skift, images via Etihad Airways]