Japanese pilot flies close to Mt Fuji, asks passengers to look out the window

Mt Fuji never looked more beautiful.

One of the most beautiful sights you can see in Japan is Mt Fuji, which is spectacular at any time of the year – if you’re lucky enough to see it without the clouds – but particularly around New Year’s, as it’s considered an auspicious symbol, especially if it appears in your dreams on New Year’s Day.

For one planeload of passengers travelling on New Year’s Eve, the mountain did appear to them almost like a dream, as they were flying at such low altitude that it loomed up close to them in their windows, giving them a unique vantage point seen by few before.

Twitter user @hajimefalling, who was onboard at the time, snapped this photo and shared it online with the following comment.

“In the pilot’s announcement, he said:
‘We’re flying at low altitude today so we’ll be coming considerably close to Mt Fuji. Even for me, in the countless times I’ve seen Mt Fuji in the past, I’ve never seen it look as beautiful as this.’
I’ve seen Mt Fuji from the Shinkansen and planes many times as well, but this was amazing…”

機長さんのアナウンスで「今日は高度を低く飛行しているため、富士山との距離がかなり近くなっております。私もここまで綺麗な富士は過去に数えるほどしか見たことがありません。」とのこと。僕も今まで新幹線から飛行機から幾度となく見た富士山で… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
ハジメ(フォーリンラブ) (@hajimefalling) December 31, 2018

While it’s not uncommon for passengers to catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji out of the plane window while on a flight, it is extremely rare to see it as close as this. Other Twitter users shared their own pictures of Mt Fuji from the air, which pale in comparison when it comes to proximity.

@hajimefalling @nojiusaaa 自分も綺麗な富士山を撮りました👍👍👍 お納めください👍👍👍 https://t.co/WHZwUsa63m

—
たかかりん@宮本佳林一筋 (@takasayu_mrk) January 01, 2019

▼ This image was taken on a flight bound for Nagasaki.

@hajimefalling @Emiko_blossom 長崎に行く時にとりました 窓越しなので少しレインボーになってしまいました＼(^o^)／ https://t.co/HfPYEX8XoU

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ｵﾓﾁｨ (@sakura_kurr) January 01, 2019

▼ And from Hawaii to Japan.

@hajimefalling ハワイ→日本 https://t.co/LjDeN4qeW5

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かえで (@kkk____0507) January 01, 2019

▼ And Japan to Hong Kong.

@hajimefalling 日本→香港 https://t.co/Ra38OMsYhj

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oɐɯoɐɯ🎍notphilippines (@3maomao) January 01, 2019

▼ This passenger says this is the closest they’ve ever gotten to Mt Fuji.

@hajimefalling 出張で西日本方面に年間30便近く乗っててもそれだけ近い富士山無いです🗻 私の一番近いのでもこれくらい https://t.co/fwTM1zCbRa

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tomotomo (@tomotom31662735) January 01, 2019

▼ While this angle makes the mountain look flat; almost like spilt milk.

@hajimefalling 通常はこのくらい…かな？ 東京→佐賀便 https://t.co/nEY3SMUzeI

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Katsuhiko_Kamiyama (@interi_genchan) January 01, 2019

▼ This picture, taken in September, shows the mountain looking naked without its iconic covering of white snow.

@hajimefalling ちなみにこんな感じです（9月） https://t.co/UBgz5r36cL

—
あすままま (@mikaduki0621) January 01, 2019

Commenters on Twitter expressed their own joy at being able to see the image online, saying it was particularly lucky to close out the year and welcome in a new one with a sight as auspicious as this.

Many more were equally enamoured with the pilot’s announcement as they were with the photo, commending him for sharing his own feelings of awe with the passengers. It added a nice personal touch to the flight, and the positive feedback is exactly what the airline world in Japan needs right now, following recent stories of less admirable airline behaviour.

Source: Hachima Kikou
Top image: Pakutaso

Credit: