An Emirates Airline’s cabin crew member was on the top of Burj Khalifa to celebrate the UK moving from the red list to amber.
The airline shared on their social media sites over the weekend a video of an air hostess dressed in Emirates’ cabin crew uniform, standing on the skyscraper’s spire, and holding up signs that showcase the gratitude the airline feel after being moved off the red list.
In the video, the camera eventually pans out to show where the cabin member stood, showing that she is indeed standing on top of the Burj Khalifa.
The flight attendant in the video is Nicole Smith-Ludvik. She considers herself a “world traveller, skydiver, yoga instructor, hiker, adventurer,” according to her Instagram.
“This is, without a doubt, one of the most amazing and exciting stunts I’ve ever done,” Smith-Ludvik shared on Instagram, referring to standing on Burj Khalifa’s spire.
Prime Productions AMG, the company that produced the video called Smith-Ludvik the “bravest woman on the planet.”
The ad was filmed without any green screen or special effects and was the result of rigorous planning, training, testing and a strict safety protocol. At the pinnacle of the building, the main protagonist had a reduced circumference space of only 1.2 metres at 828 metres high to pull off the stunt.
A casting call was put out to Emirates’ very own cabin crew team and while there were some willing and capable candidates, a professional skydiving instructor was cast to ensure the highest levels of safety.
Throughout filming and in preparation of the shoot, safety remained the main priority. A custom platform with an attached pole was built at the top for the protagonist to stand on. She was attached to the pole as well as two other different points directly to the pinnacle, through a hidden harness under the Emirates uniform.
The production company used a helicopter and drone to shoot the video, Smith-Ludvik was required to stand on the spire for hours.
The stunt required a huge amount of permissions and logistics, not to mention expertise.
Filming started at sunrise to catch the golden hour light and the team, including the main star of the ad, began their ascent to the pinnacle before sunrise. The climb took 1 hour and 15 mins from level 160 of the Burj Khalifa by Emaar and the team had to scale several tiers and ladders inside a tube to reach the top.
The team was at the pinnacle for around 5 hours with the stunt woman, wearing a safety harness under the Emirates uniform secured to a custom-made platform that was attached directly to the pinnacle. A single drone was used to capture the footage in a continuous take to film the complete sequence.
