Summary
- Strong solar storm caused stunning aurora colors across the world on Friday and Saturday.
- The powerful energy prompted officials to issue a geomagnetic storm warning.
- Pilots went above and beyond to provide passengers with a front-row view of the captivating Northern Lights.
A powerful solar storm was responsible for displaying a dazzling light show that painted the night sky this weekend. With brilliant ombré accents of purple, green, yellow, and pink of the Northern Lights being seen worldwide, some people had a front row seat to the display as they cruised several thousand feet in the air on commercial flights.
Although the natural light display, officially known as an aurora, is captured frequently and is predominantly viewed from regions of high latitude, strong solar energy caused this recent occurrence to be seen much farther south than normal. People in South Florida and even Hawaii witnessed the stunning colors dancing in the night.
Garnering attention
According to the Associated Press (AP), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning after a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday. The warning was issued sooner than officials expected and alerted operators of power plants, orbiting spacecraft, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take precautionary measures. The intense storm posed a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids and satellites, which could cause disruptions to navigation and communication services.
Check It Out
Are The Northern Lights Visible From Inside An Aircraft?
If you’re flying after dark, and you’re lucky enough, you might get to enjoy some of the best views of an aurora borealis in the world.
The solar energy, however, did not negatively affect aviation as several passengers documented their amazement on social media.
Brian Yutko was traveling on a Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Friday. The passenger posted photos of his view, showing vibrant purple, pink, and green hues.
Another frequent flyer simply said, “Best. Flight. Ever,” posting their picture of the aurora above the clouds.
Allowing everyone to see
One Boeing 737 pilot was flying on an eastbound transcontinental flight on Saturday. To give all passengers a view of the light show, the pilot briefly reversed the aircraft’s course at 37,000 feet and asked the flight attendants to dim the cabin lights.
It is not the first time a pilot has circled a plane to treat passengers to a view of the northern lights. In February 2023, a passenger on an easyJet flight from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Manchester, England, witnessed spectacular views after the pilot performed a 360-degree turn, according to the BBC. The passenger, along with his fiance, were seated on the right side of the plane and would not have been able to see the lights if the pilot had not circled the aircraft.
Hekla Aurora
Due to its geography, Iceland is one of the most popular destinations to view the northern lights. The country’s flag carrier, Icelandair, named one of its Boeing 757-200s “Hekla Aurora” and repainted it to feature a colorful livery depicting the aurora. The aircraft’s interior is also illuminated with mood lighting to recreate the light show in the cabin and enhance its ambiance. The airline unveiled the paint scheme in 2014, and has been flying it ever since.
Photo: Lukas Wunderlich | Shutterstock
This weekend’s solar storm is one of the strongest in history. According to the AP, the most powerful storm on record happened in 1859, prompting auroras as far south as Central America.
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