Airline passengers experience front row seats to dazzling Northern Lights display
To make sure the passengers could see this striking view, the pilot of easyJet flight 1806 made a small loop in the flight path.
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Airline passengers saw the Northern Lights up close on Monday, when their plane flew by the dazzling neon green phenomenon.
Most people who’ve seen the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, have only seen them from the ground. To see the lights at eye-level is an experience only a relative few would ever have.
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Photos shot during easyJet flight 1806’s trip from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Manchester, U.K. provide a peek at the lights with this rare perspective.
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 1 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 2 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 4 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 6 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
![Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.]()
Image 7 of 7Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023. (@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX)
The lights can be seen dancing over the plane’s left wing, appearing as a neon green ribbon popping on the backdrop of a starry night sky.
Some images show the lights in a blur, indicating their naturally frantic movement.
Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.
(@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX / FOX Weather)
To make sure the passengers could see this striking view, the pilot of easyJet flight 1806 made a small loop in the flight path.
The green line indicates the flight path of easyJet flight 1806. Note the green circle, where pilot looped around to make sure all of the passengers were able to see the Northern Lights.
(FOX Forecast Center / FOX Weather)
The Northern Lights are caused by geomagnetic storms, which occur when solar events bombard the Earth with electrons. The electrons interact with the oxygen and nitrogen in Earth’s magnetic field – an interaction that produces the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights over the wing of easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland to Manchester, U.K. February 27, 2023.
(@STICKA84 / SCI + TECH /TMX / FOX Weather)
A strong geomagnetic storm was reported Sunday night to early Monday morning, according to NOAA. On a geomagnetic storm scale from G1 up to G5, the storm was rated G3, or Strong.
Because of the geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights were visible much farther south than usual overnight Sunday and Monday – giving the passengers of easyJet flight 1806 an electrifying view.