This In-Flight Safety Video Is Painfully Sexist

It's hard to believe this wasn't a skit, but a painfully sexist Air New Zealand in-flight safety video featuring swimsuit models was, until recently, a real thing. The video featured four models in bikinis, natch, demonstrating how to use the airplane equipment in the event of an emergency, but most passengers presumably stopped paying attention after "Hi, welcome aboard Air New Zealand."

Not surprisingly, the video has since been scrapped, after a Change.org petition protesting its offensive and sexist content gathered more than 11,000 signatures. I'm not sure if that's the most important issue here, though. What happened to safety first? Shouldn't an in-flight safety video not be so... distracting? It might have been the first safety video in history that passengers watched in its entirety, but not to learn how to use the oxygen masks.

The video, called "Safety in Paradise," stars well-known swimwear models Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Gomes, Hannah Davis, Ariel Meredith, with an appearance by Christie Brinkley. While this is the first time an Air New Zealand in-flight safety video has prompted a petition against it, the airlines is known for producing segments that are more entertaining than the average safety video.

Past films have featured Hobbit characters and Betty White, while next month's video will star Bear Grylls in a segment called "Bear Essentials of Safety." So, you see, within this context, the provocative video, which was a collaboration between Air New Zealand and Sports Illustrated , isn't completely out of left field, but it is still bizarre. Let's break it down.

The video opens with a bird's-eye view of the beautiful Cook Islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

Then an adorable little boy welcomes the viewer to his home and two Air New Zealand flight attendants announce the 50th anniversary of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Ah, it all makes sense now.

And here come the models...

Chrissy Teigen introduces herself and the girls and tells the viewer to "settle in and relax" as she also relaxes on a beach chair. By now, there is no way the men on board are concerned about flotation devices.

Nifty visual aids help do the (really simple) work that the models are supposed to do, but they're too busy loungin'.

OK, I'm pretty sure that outfit goes against flight policy.

Ariel expertly explains the oxygen masks, from the comfort of a hammock.

And she makes sure she looks OK with it on.

Then Jessica explains the "brace yourself" routine very calmly in the event that the plane goes down in flames.

One guy is too distracted to practice the routine — which is probably what's also happening to every guy on the plane.

Then, as if the four swimsuit models weren't enough, an island babe appears to demonstrate how to wear the flotation devices (voluminous hair and flower perfectly tucked behind your ear optional).

Even the other models can't help checking out her hotness.

Until one of them steals the spotlight back by pretending to float with the device. I'm pretty sure that's not what people look like when they're trying not to drown.

The ever-youthful Christie Brinkley, the O.G. swimsuit model, makes a cameo when Ariel calls her from the flight. Then Ariel gets told to shut off her phone for take-off. At least we know models don't get preferential treatment in that department.

Oh and in case you haven't gotten enough models, here are some more random ones showing you your exits while hula dancing.

If only a real emergency landing would be this pretty.

Everything is magical in paradise, even a map of the plane's exits.

Then the adorable little boy appears again to say goodbye, but he's quickly overshadowed...

...because swimsuit models.

Watch the entire video below.

Images: Air New Zealand on YouTube