Pilot Makes 360-Degree Turn So Passengers Can Witness 'Incredible' Northern Lights

Sep 21, 2023 by apost team

The night of Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, became a memorable moment for hundreds of passengers aboard a flight from Reykjavik to Manchester. A powerful geomagnetic storm created a stunning show of the bright and colorful Northern Lights, and this display was exceptionally breathtaking when seen from high up in the sky during that unforgettable trip.

An EasyJet pilot made an extraordinary 360-degree turn during the flight, treating passengers to a mesmerizing view of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis. 

Passenger Adam Groves, who hails from Lymm, Cheshire, was on board the flight with his fiancée Jasmine Mapp, and the sight was especially significant for the couple. It marked the perfect ending to their four-night trip to Iceland, during which Groves had proposed to Mapp, and she said yes. However, their journey had been previously filled with unsuccessful attempts to witness the elusive Northern Lights.

Only some people are aware that the Northern Lights are active throughout the entire year, according to Space. However, they can be rarely visible or elusive when the Aurora Zone, located 65 to 72 degrees North, has no daylight. It needs to be dark in order to see the Northern Lights in the sky. Unfortunately, between the months of April through August, the sun shines 24 hours a day in this area. 

Thus, the best time to visit a destination within the Aurora Zone for a chance to see this spectacle is from late August or September until the early days of April. But then the Northern Lights can behave unpredictably because even with an Aurora activity forecast, it's still likely for travelers not to see anything. This was exactly what happened to the newly engaged couple. 

"We were hoping to see them while we were out there, but we didn't get the chance," Groves explained via BBC. "We took off, and halfway into the flight, the pilot turned all the lights off, and the view could be seen out the left window. But we were sitting on the right-hand side, and after a few minutes, the pilot switched back and did a 360 loop around for everyone to see."

In a social media post, Groves thanked the pilot and shared photos of what he witnessed. His message was viewed by 2.8 million. 

"Big thanks to the @easyJet pilot of EZY1806 from Reykjavik to Manchester who did a 360 fly by mid flight to make sure all passengers could see the incredible Northern Lights 🤩" 

Another passenger also shared his photos from the same flight, taken from the other side of the plane. Three more passengers posted their images, including Angela Alty, Lisa Goodwin and Demi-Mai Stokes.

"That pilot should be cheered and awarded for allowing the passengers to see the northern lights after he did a full 360 fly by,” a delighted commenter said.

After the breathtaking experience, Mapp expressed her gratitude to the pilot. After days of searching for the northern lights by car, seeing them in the sky was the perfect end to their special trip.

In response to the viral photos, EasyJet released a statement:

“We are pleased that the captain was able to perform a controlled maneuver in order to allow passengers to witness an amazing display from the air of one of nature's greatest sights. Our crew will always go above and beyond for our customers and we're delighted to have been able to share this special view with them."

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The reward of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is truly worth the adventure! Have you ever dreamed of witnessing this mesmerizing spectacle in person? Do you know someone who has this on their bucket list? Then tell them about this story for inspiration!