An EasyJet pilot performed a 360-degree turn mid-flight to allow passengers a stunning view of the northern lights. The aircraft was travelling from Iceland to Manchester when the aurora borealis appeared in a rare display across the UK.
Passenger Adam Groves, from Lymm, Cheshire, described the sight as 'incredible' and said it 'topped off' his four-night trip, during which he also got engaged. Groves and his fiancée Jasmine Mapp were seated on the right-hand side of the plane and would have missed the lights without the pilot's manoeuvre.
The couple had spent their entire trip in Iceland searching for the aurora without success. Groves explained: 'We were hoping to see them while we were out there but we didn't get the chance. 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.'
Mapp added: 'After days of jumping in the car at any opportunity to try and find the northern lights without spotting them, finally getting to see them in the sky was the perfect ending to a very special trip.'
An EasyJet spokeswoman said: 'We are pleased that the captain was able to perform a controlled manoeuvre 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.'
