The pilot circles the plane so the passengers can see the northern lights

News

Of Patrick Reilly

March 1, 2023 | 07:19

A couple flying back to the UK got the trip of a lifetime after the pilot decided to circle the plane back around midway so passengers could catch a dazzling glimpse of the northern lights.

British native Adam Groves and his fiancee Jasmine Mapp flew back to Manchester after an incredible four-night trip to Iceland where Mapp accepted Groves’ marriage proposal.

The two had spent the entire trip unsuccessfully chasing the northern lights, they told the BBC.

While on an EasyJet flight home, the natural spectacle lit up the night sky – but was only visible to those sitting on the left side of the plane, opposite Groves and Mapp.

The couple would have missed the “incredible” spot if it wasn’t for the “very kind” pilot who offered to circle the plane 360 ​​degrees so everyone on board could see the lights, which have been visible over parts of the plane. UK this week, the BBC reported.

“We were hoping to see them while we were out there, but we didn’t get the chance,” Groves told the news agency.

“We took off and halfway into the plane the pilot turned off all the lights and the view could be seen out the left window,” he continued. “But we were sitting on the right side and after a few minutes the pilot switched back and did a 360 loop around for everyone to see.”

The two said it was the “perfect ending” to the life-changing trip following their engagement with a beautiful natural view of Iceland’s rugged south coast.

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“After days of jumping in the car at every opportunity to try and find the Northern Lights without spotting them, finally seeing them in the sky was the perfect end to a very special trip,” Mapp told the BBC.

An EasyJet spokeswoman said it was pleased the pilot was “able to perform a controlled manoeuvre” so passengers could see “one of nature’s greatest sights”.