Feb 8, 8:55 AM (ET)By ALISA TANG
UDON THANI, Thailand (AP) - Skydivers from 31 countries say they have set a new world record of 400 people holding hands in a midair free-fall formation.
The record was certified by judges from the Switzerland-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale at the scene, announced the World Team '06, the informal association of international skydivers who made the attempt over an airfield in northeastern Thailand.
According to World Team skydive director B.J. Worth, in order to set the record, "100 percent of the people in the air have to be holding hands, even if only for a split second."
The group had failed to completely link up for a measurable amount of time in two earlier jumps Wednesday.
They had made three attempts a day for two days before succeeding in their attempt.
The previous record, of 357 skydivers over Takhli, Thailand, in February 2004, had also been set by the World Team.
"It was beautiful. It was one of my absolute favorite dives of my life," said Worth.
Appearing first as tiny specks in the sky, the divers suddenly grasped hands and drifted down as a circular formation for a few seconds.
They then broke off and hundreds of parachuting skydivers rained to the ground, their fists in the air and their legs kicking in triumph.
The formation jump was one of two record attempts by the group: a 960-person mass drop into Bangkok's yet-to-be-opened new international airport is supposed to take place Saturday. The World Team also holds a mass free-fall jump record of 672 unlinked skydivers over Bangkok in January 2004.
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On the Net:
The World Team:
http://www.theworldteam.com/
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