LOW BLOW

Pilot Sparks Fury After Flying Passenger Jet Just 300 Feet Over Home Town

The aircraft passed unusually close to rooftops and treetops.

A veteran pilot has sparked outrage after flying a passenger jet at an alarmingly low altitude over his childhood home during his final commercial flight. The incident occurred on Saturday as an Icelandair flight from Frankfurt to Iceland approached Keflavik International Airport. During descent, the Boeing 757 reportedly dropped to around 300 feet over Vestmannaeyjar, a volcanic archipelago off southern Iceland, where the pilot grew up. Residents said the aircraft passed unusually close to rooftops and treetops, with some reporting loud noise, vibration, and fears the plane was in distress. Icelandair said the pilot carried out the maneuver without authorization and has been reported to the police. Chief flight officer Linda Gunnarsdóttir said the action fell outside standard procedures, calling it “a very serious matter that we will review internally.” The airline said it regrets the disturbance, confirmed that the low-altitude pass was not approved, and said it is believed to have been a personal farewell gesture ahead of retirement.