Tom Cruise takes to the London skies in a helicopter wearing a cap and face mask

He recently returned to filming Mission: Impossible 7 after a long hiatus during lockdown.

And Tom Cruise was looking every inch the action star as he flew a helicopter in London on Thursday.

The actor, 58, donned a cap and a black face mask for his ride in the impressive chopper.

Action star: Tom Cruise boarded a helicopter in London on Friday wearing a cap and a black face mask

Fortunately he did not attempt to recreate his spectacular stunt from Mission Impossible: Fallout – when he hung mid-air from a helicopter.

Tom, who has a helicopter pilot’s licence, was joined by a copilot in the cockpit of the aircraft.

He was wearing a blue cable knit jumper, jeans and a backpack for the speedy getaway.  

Keen flyer: Tom, who has a helicopter pilot's licence, was joined by a copilot in the cockpit of the aircraft

Keen flyer: Tom, who has a helicopter pilot’s licence, was joined by a copilot in the cockpit of the aircraft

Stylish: He boarded wearing a blue cable knit jumper and jeans

Prepared: The star also carried a backpack for the speedy getaway

Stylish: He boarded wearing a blue cable knit jumper, jeans and a backpack for the speedy getaway

All his own stunts: The Top Gun star boarded the front of the aircraft as he flew high into the London sky

All his own stunts: The Top Gun star boarded the front of the aircraft as he flew high into the London sky

Back to work: The movie star recently resumed filming on Mission Impossible 7 and 8 at the Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, in Hertfordshire

Back to work: The movie star recently resumed filming on Mission Impossible 7 and 8 at the Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, in Hertfordshire

The single-engine black matte helicopter, an Airbus H125, flew over the London skyline.

Earlier this week, the Hollywood star was spotted landing a helicopter on Richmond golf course, much to the surprise of its members. 

The movie star recently resumed filming on Mission Impossible 7 and 8 at the Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, in Hertfordshire.

Filming could start back up after the British government gave the green light for production due to filmmakers being exempt from certain quarantine rules.  

Boy's toys: The single-engine black matte helicopter, an Airbus H125, flew off over the London skyline

Boy’s toys: The single-engine black matte helicopter, an Airbus H125, flew off over the London skyline

Taking precautions: Tom was taking extra care amid the coronavirus pandemic by keeping on his face mask

Taking precautions: Tom was taking extra care amid the coronavirus pandemic by keeping on his face mask

In production: Tom's filming resumed after the British government gave the green light for production due to filmmakers being exempt from certain quarantine rules

In production: Tom’s filming resumed after the British government gave the green light for production due to filmmakers being exempt from certain quarantine rules

Up, up and away: The acclaimed actor took to the skies in the impressive black vehicle

Up, up and away: The acclaimed actor took to the skies in the impressive black vehicle 

Pilot's style: True to form, Tom was spotted with a pair of Aviator sunglasses tucked into his jumper

Pilot’s style: True to form, Tom was spotted with a pair of Aviator sunglasses tucked into his jumper

Scouting the view: The Hollywood star was sat alongside a copilot who was wearing a blue shirt

Scouting the view: The Hollywood star was sat alongside a copilot who was wearing a blue shirt

Popular series: Cruise revealed in January last year that the next two Mission: Impossible action films would be released in Summer 2021 and Summer 2022

 Popular series: Cruise revealed in January last year that the next two Mission: Impossible action films would be released in Summer 2021 and Summer 2022

Tom reportedly discussed filming logistics with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden on a video chat.

The government said it will publish guidance allowing ‘small numbers’ of essential cast and crew to travel to the UK without having to quarantine for 14 days. 

Exempted individuals will instead have to live and work in controlled ‘bubbled’ environments, such as filming locations, for the same period of time. 

Carry on: The new exemption applies to individuals coming to England specifically to work on film and television productions which qualify as British, the Government said

Carry on: The new exemption applies to individuals coming to England specifically to work on film and television productions which qualify as British, the Government said

Hiatus: Filming on Mission: Impossible 7 had to be halted in Italy in February over coronavirus fears

Hiatus: Filming on Mission: Impossible 7 had to be halted in Italy in February over coronavirus fears

New stunts: The 58-year-old action star was recently spotted practising his motocross skills and flying a helicopter around the Oxfordshire countryside

New stunts: The 58-year-old action star was recently spotted practising his motocross skills and flying a helicopter around the Oxfordshire countryside

Under wraps: Little is known of the new film but eager fans can expect to see exciting chases, perhaps involving a bike and a helicopter following Tom's recent stunts

Under wraps: Little is known of the new film but eager fans can expect to see exciting chases, perhaps involving a bike and a helicopter following Tom’s recent stunts

More to come: Tom has already confirmed he will be reprising the role of Ethan for a Mission: Impossible 8, but its release may be delayed

More to come: Tom has already confirmed he will be reprising the role of Ethan for a Mission: Impossible 8, but its release may be delayed

Friendly faces: Mission: Impossible 7 will see the return of a number of familiar stars from the franchise, as well as the addition of Hayley Attwell and Esai Morales

Friendly faces: Mission: Impossible 7 will see the return of a number of familiar stars from the franchise, as well as the addition of Hayley Attwell and Esai Morales

‘The world’s biggest blockbusters and high-end TV shows are made in Britain,’ Dowden explained, nodding to the seventh and eighth installments of the hit spy films being shot in Hertfordshire. 

He added: ‘Our creativity, expertise and highly successful tax reliefs for our screen industries means that we are an in demand location that in turn delivers a great return for our economy. 

‘We want the industry to bounce back and exempting small numbers of essential cast and crew from quarantine is part of our continued commitment to getting cameras rolling safely again,’ the British politician noted. 

Winning formula: The films focus on agent Ethan Hunt and will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who previously worked on 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018

Winning formula: The films focus on agent Ethan Hunt and will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who previously worked on 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018

Upcoming: The new films will see Tom reprise one of his most famous roles as the rogue IMF spy

Upcoming: The new films will see Tom reprise one of his most famous roles as the rogue IMF spy 

Popular franchise: The current film is the seventh in the massive Mission: Impossible series

Popular franchise: The current film is the seventh in the massive Mission: Impossible series

Back to work: Tom is now filming the latest Mission: Impossible film in England under a quarantine exemption, amid the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic (seen in 2019)

Back to work: Tom is now filming the latest Mission: Impossible film in England under a quarantine exemption, amid the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic (seen in 2019)

The exemption applies to individuals coming to England specifically to work on film and television productions which qualify as British, the Government said.

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, added that the news was a ‘clear recognition of the importance of the film and high-end TV inward investment sector to the UK’s economy.’ 

He said: ‘The sector was worth over £3 billion in 2019, and has a clear role to play in our economic recovery following the lockdown.’

Adjustments: Tom discussed filming logistics with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who confirmed filmmakers will be exempt from certain quarantine rules on a video chat

Adjustments: Tom discussed filming logistics with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who confirmed filmmakers will be exempt from certain quarantine rules on a video chat

Cruise revealed in January last year that the next two Mission: Impossible action films would be released in Summer 2021 and Summer 2022.

However filming on Mission: Impossible 7, which will feature British actor Simon Pegg, had to be halted in Italy in February over coronavirus fears.

The 58-year-old action star was recently spotted practicing his motocross skills and flying a helicopter around the Oxfordshire countryside. 

The films focus on agent Ethan Hunt, played by Cruise, and will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who previously worked on 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018.

Upcoming: The films focus on agent Ethan Hunt, played by Tom, and will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie (pictured 2011)

Upcoming: The films focus on agent Ethan Hunt, played by Tom, and will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie (pictured 2011)