Dallas, Texas – A special eclipse flight operated by Delta Air Lines on Monday missed the path of totality, disappointing passengers who had hoped to witness the moon completely covering the sun. The airline confirmed that air traffic controllers prevented the plane from making planned turns to give both sides of the aircraft a view of the eclipse.
Delta stated that the flight deviated slightly from the path of totality due to air traffic control managing congestion and a high volume of special maneuver requests along the eclipse’s path. Despite another Delta flight from Austin being allowed to perform a maneuver called an S-curve, the Dallas flight was not granted the same opportunity.
While the Federal Aviation Administration did not comment on the specifics of the Delta flight’s path, they emphasized their focus on ensuring the safety of all flights during the eclipse. The FAA had previously warned about congestion and potential impacts on air traffic due to the event.
Passengers onboard the Delta flight were disappointed as the aircraft flew in a circle at 33,000 feet to give both sides a view. However, many did not get the experience they had hoped for, with some expressing their suspicions about the positioning being off.
Despite warnings from Delta about possible changes to flight plans due to external factors like weather and air traffic control, passengers paid a premium price for the eclipse flight experience. Some passengers, like Dimitrije Ratkov, a PhD student, compared the flight’s path to that of the eclipse using a flight-tracking site and NASA’s eclipse map, revealing that the plane had veered out of totality.
The first Delta flight for the eclipse from Austin managed to stay within the path of totality, providing passengers with a clear view of the eclipse. However, those onboard the Dallas flight had a different experience, with many still trying to make the most of the situation despite not getting the expected vantage point.
Passenger Kyle Carter, a private pilot, expressed satisfaction with seeing the moon’s shadow approaching the plane, while others, like Ratkov, were left feeling disappointed after investing financially and emotionally in the experience. Delta faced criticism for the deviation from the path of totality, prompting requests for an explanation from the airline.
Overall, despite the mixed experiences onboard the eclipse flight, passengers remained hopeful and appreciative of the unique opportunity to witness a celestial event from the skies.