When introducing the spatial computing headset “Vision Pro”, Apple focused on two core messages: intuitive operation through hand and pupil tracking and a particularly immersive video experience. For the latter, the company launched a prestigious series of 3D videos called “Apple Immersive Video”. According to Bloomberg, a tragic accident is said to have occurred during the filming of such a documentary in the summer of 2024: the protagonist Claire Lomas was injured in the unsuccessful landing and died five weeks later. The recordings took place in the Jordanian desert and were intended to highlight sights such as the ruined city of Petra and the Wadi Rum valley. For this purpose, flights with an ultralight aircraft were planned, with a prominent pilot: Claire Lomas had been paralyzed since a riding accident in 2007 and has since then been committed to the rights of people with limited mobility. She was 44 years old.
Failed landing
Apparently there were no problems during the flight. The accident only occurred during taxiing: The BBC reports that the plane left the runway and hit a rock. She died five weeks later in a Jordanian hospital. British investigative authorities will soon announce what they believe led to Lomas’s death. This made it known that Apple was involved in the production of the documentary. Bloomberg also reports that there have been complaints about working conditions in the past, such as very long assignments and insufficient preparation for the harsh environmental conditions on site. Apple responded to this by having representatives for safety and health at work regularly visit the filming location.
“Adventure”: Immersive video series
Apple carried out the production in Jordan in cooperation with the English production company Atlantic. The “Adventure” series includes stereoscopically recorded films in 8K with a 180° viewing angle. They can only be viewed on Apple’s VR headset. So far, five films have been released in the series that accompany extreme athletes to particularly spectacular locations: tightrope walking at 900 meters altitude, parkour in Paris, diving in the Arctic, cliff climbing and jumping in Mallorca and car racing in Colorado. The Jordanian production will probably never be made public, but may have been used as evidence in the investigation.
