Passengers on board Lufthansa flight LH435 from Chicago to Munich were able to experience a total eclipse of the sun, early on the morning of March 20 local time.
As a result of a minor change in its flight path to a routing southeast of Iceland, the Lufthansa Airbus A330-300 passed the complete shadow of the moon eclipsing the sun, with the aircraft flying at a cruising altitude of 12,600 meters (41,350 feet) above sea level.
Early on March 20, by means of a pre-agreed slight course change, people on board Lufthansa flight 435 from Chicago to Munich were able to view a complete eclipse of the sun by the moon
The passengers got to see this natural event from a special viewpoint at 10:37 a.m. Central European Time for almost four minutes – one minute longer than the eclipse was visible on the ground.
“LH435 was the scheduled Lufthansa flight that was closest to the solar eclipse today,” said Captain Martin Hoell, head of Lufthansa’s Munich long-haul fleet. “We used this unique opportunity to allow our customers to witness this natural phenomenon.”
This view from the cockpit of the Airbus A330-300 operating Lufthansa flight LH435 from Chicago to Munich early on the morning on March 20, when the flight crew and passengers were able to view a total eclipse of the sun
Hoell added: “Our flight planners calculated the minor adjustment of the routing that was required and the crew flew into the complete shadow of the solar eclipse at exactly the time and point that was planned.”
For the first time, Lufthansa’s in-flight service included UV glasses and an informational brochure in the seat back pockets, in addition to meals and beverages.
Passengers traveling on Lufthansa flight LH435 from Chicago to Munich, which left Chicago O’Hare International Airport on the evening of March 19, were given UV glasses so they could view a total eclipse of the sun by the moon, as the plane was flying en route southeast of Iceland
After the flight’s departure from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the passengers were informed of the spectacular event during their flight through an announcement from the cockpit.
Those who wished to be woken six hours after take-off could put a sticker on their seat.
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