A special flight with 200 eclipse chasers

A special flight with 200 eclipse chasers

Millions of people in the US and Canada gazed at the sky in anticipation, with specialised protective glasses in their eyes and prayer on their lips.

A rare celestial dance was to take place and they wanted clear skies.

Even as they prepared on the ground, a Delta Air Lines plane was taking off with 200 passengers, promising them a unique cosmic show.

It was a once-in-decade total solar eclipse that everyone was chasing — on land and in air. Because the next total solar eclipse visible from the US mainland will take place in only 20 years.Â

The 200 who had booked their seats on the special flight were promised an unobstructed view of the total solar eclipse from above the clouds.

The Delta Air Lines special flight was covering the route of the solar eclipse, from Dallas to Detroit.

HOW PASSENGERS ON DELTA FLIGHT RUSHED TO WINDOWS

Some passengers gathered near the windows for the prized glimpse of the giant shadow on the sun, as the pilots carried on with their route.

Before entering a few minutes of totality, the cabin lights were dimmed, and the outside sky darkened. Passengers received a swag bag containing eclipse-themed chips and Delta-branded glasses and a few special instructions for the special spectacle.

However, despite the pilots’ efforts on the route and the sun’s position in the sky during most of the journey, the passengers struggled to catch the glimpse of the total eclipse as they had thought.

The shadow chasers had paid a premium price for the premium view.

“What I wanted to see, more than the actual eclipse itself, was just the shadow racing toward us from behind,” said 40-years-old Kyle Carter.

“I did see that. You could see the darkness coming towards us,” a stay-at-home dad and amateur pilot Kyle told The Washington Post.

However, disappointed, Kyle said that he was happy with what he saw.

A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE FOR ECLIPSE CHASERS

Scot Kees, an attorney, was on the flight with his daughter Gabrielle. He had come from Atlanta on the special flight. He said they “got a sliver” of the eclipse.

“Even though we didn’t get it completely, it was a fun community experience,” he said.

Kess, however, said he was happy to watch “a sliver” of the eclipse.

The flight captain described the sky turning into a “dark version of dusk” but did not look directly at the sun during the flight.

“The city lights came on because of the darkness,” Captain Alex Howell told The Washington Post.

In the lead-up to the solar eclipse, multiple airlines, like the Delta, advertised prime viewing flights, with Delta operating two dedicated eclipse flights from Texas.

A couple even got engaged on a flight from Austin to Detroit.

The planning for these special flights started months in advance.

Despite some passengers expressing disappointment in their viewing experience, the flight was a special one to remember.

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