Aurora Borealis captured from cockpit by pilot with 'front row seat' in incredible images

A pilot was lucky enough to take in an unforgettable view of the Aurora Borealis from his cockpit this week, and the images he captured are equally as stunning.

Pilot Scott Bateman MBE was directing Airbus A350-1000 from Chicago to Ireland on Sunday when he managed to snap the atmospheric phenomenon from his cabin window .

Scott, from the south-west of England, is used to piloting across the globe , but what was in front of him over the weekend was something he'd never seen before and was enough to stop him - thankfully, not literally - in his tracks.

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"Last night was spectacular!" Scott shared online. "I have never seen the Aurora Borealis so vivid with reds and purples . It started as we passed Chicago at 39,000ft and lasted until the dawn over Ireland, when it turned purple.

"The pics are from my iPhone 15 with no editing or filters. This and meteors, and we had a front row seat in our Airbus ."

The former RAF pilot, also known for his bestselling book on the Hercules military aircraft, captured the stunning light show with some jaw-dropping images that have been met with wonder from meteorological enthusiasts.

Auroras, natural displays in the Earth's sky typically seen in regions close to the Arctic and Antarctic , are caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere due to solar wind.

These lights can appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers engulfing the sky. On Sunday, Co Cork was one of the counties dazzled by a breathtaking Aurora Borealis show as the skies turned shades of pink and purple.

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The Northern Lights put on a hefty display over West Cork, especially gracing its western islands, and another lucky photographer, this time on ground, captured the moment when a meteor streaked through the rosy-tinged sky.

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