Panic spread across an Icelandic town after a Boeing 757 pilot flew at “dangerously low” altitude to celebrate his retirement. The pilot was flying his final commercial flight over the volcanic archipelago Vestmannaeyjar in southern Iceland on Saturday (April 11) after 40 years of service.
While flying from Frankfurt to Iceland, the pilot decided to descend to just over 328 feet (100 m) above the community before landing at KeflavÃk International Airport. Icelandair has reported the veteran pilot to police after he made an unauthorized low-altitude flyover, believed to be a personal farewell to his childhood home. Chief flight officer Linda Gunnarsdottir said she believed passengers on board the plane were told about the sightseeing passes during the flight. However, Icelandair has not confirmed this yet.
Footage taken by residents of Vestmannaeyjar shows the more than 150-foot, 225-passenger jet hovering at hill level and flying at terrifyingly low altitude over house roofs and tree tops. Locals in the area later told reporters that they experienced noticeable noise and vibration as the plane passed overhead. daily Mail. Many people feared that the plane was going to crash when they saw it flying so low over the city.
Ms Gunnarsdottir told local media that the pilot had acted without the airline’s knowledge or permission.
“In aviation, everything is very rigorous in work procedures, checklists and other things… what we do on normal passenger flights – this does not fall within that framework,” he said, adding: “This is not standard practice; this is a very serious matter which we will review internally.”
Noting that such actions are not customary when Icelandair pilots fly their final flight, Ms Gunnarsdottir said they have happened in the past.
“It has happened from time to time, but it is in no way standard practice and not something we would have authorized,” he confirmed to local outlet Iceland Monitor.
Icelandair expressed regret over the incident, saying: “We apologize to the residents of Vestmannaeyjar if they have been upset,” Ms Gunnarsdottir told local outlet Vizir.
Icelandair has not clarified whether additional disciplinary action will be taken internally, but a police investigation is ongoing.
