Watch moment pilot spots 'Iranian missile' at 32,000 feet on flight to UK
A pilot claims he spotted a missile launch in Iran while flying a commercial passenger flight at 32,000 feet.
The pilot, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he was flying from Delhi to the United Kingdom on Saturday (February 28), when he saw what he believes was a launch approximately 50km from Iran’s northern border near Turkmenistan.
He said he was three hours into the seven-and-a-half-hour flight when he noticed the launch while cruising at altitude. The pilot also revealed how the flight route was repeatedly changed amid growing Middle East tensions.
He claimed that before take-off, he was due to fly through Iraq - but airspace closures forced a last-minute change. Several countries across the region have reportedly tightened airspace controls amid ongoing missile activity, forcing airlines to adjust routes for safety.
The pilot, who originally shared his story with Sell Us Your Story, said: "When you are cruising as a pilot, it is usually quite boring. All of a sudden, you see this rocket launch - it is astonishing.
"It is startling seeing something like that. I was in awe of what was happening. Just before we set off, there was a suggestion that we route through Iraq because of the risk of travelling through Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"Then we were told that the Iraq airspace was closed and the safest route, which all the airlines were going through was Pakistan and Afghanistan as previously planned."