Passengers on a jet flying over the Caribbean have received a close-up look at a massive volcanic eruption sending ash and dust higher than the plane itself.
The 737 jet was flying to the holiday destination of St Lucia when it passed the Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Monserrat midway through its eruption, the Daily Mail reported.
PHOTOS: Volcano blows its top
Passengers rushed to the windows to see the explosion and subsequent mushroom cloud after the eruption was announced by the plane's captain.
The volcano sent a plume of ash as high as 12,000 metres, prompting other flight delays after fears the dust would get into the engines.
Canadian passenger Mary Jo Penkala said everybody in St Lucia was talking about the volcano after it erupted.
"We were so lucky to see the volcano in all its glory," she said.
"It was certainly an interesting start to our vacation."
The partial collapse of the volcano's lava dome is believed to be responsible for the ash cloud.
Since becoming active in 1995 the volcano has left much of the island uninhabitable, destroying the capital city of Plymouth.
It's not the first time passenger planes have had to contend with volcanic eruptions, with a 1982 British Airways flight forced to glide for 12 minutes after its engines were blocked by ash.
Front page
RSS Feed