It was a change of route that many did not expect, but which they ended up thanking. Several commercial airline flights have diverted their route so passengers can see the northern lights, a colorful light show that occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field, according to The NASA.
At least two planes have been registered as deciding to change their itinerary: easyJet Flight 1806, from Reykjavik to Manchester; and Finnair flight 488, from Kuusamo to Helsinki. Flight tracking websites show that the two planes ended up making small circles in midair repeatedly.
Many passengers appreciated the gesture of the commander and his crew. “Many thanks to the captain of Finnair flight AY488 from KAO to HEL tonight for doing an unscheduled 360 degree turn in the air so all passengers could enjoy the magic,” Kirsi Komi tweeted on Sunday. “Too bad he didn’t have the right camera,” laments another passenger on the same journey.
Travelers on easyJet Flight 1806, which briefly deviated from the predetermined route, were also lucky enough to witness this phenomenon of nature. “Big thanks to the @easyJet pilot of EZY1806 from Reykjavik to Manchester who did a 360 degree flight mid-flight to make sure all passengers got to see the amazing Northern Lights,” Adam Groves wrote.
Ross Sticka, who was flying with his wife, brother and sister-in-law, was able to take pictures out the window. Speaking to CNN, Sticka explained that they had heard that people on a previous flight saw the northern lights and they kept an eye out near the window waiting for a repeat of the scene. So it was. As he recounted, the easyJet team even turned off the lights so everyone could see the Northern Lights.
“Everyone was very excited, and many had not seen it before. We were lucky to see her twice on our trip to Iceland. It is an amazing experience,” she added in statements to this medium.
The airline explains that it was “delighted” to provide them with that unexpected and unique experience. The captain “was able to perform a controlled maneuver to allow passengers to witness the amazing display from the air of one of nature’s best sights, the northern lights,” the company said in a statement sent to CNN.
