An upper atmospheric lightning, called a blue jet, was recorded on November 19th, 2021 at 40 000 feet (12.000 meters) from an airliner flight deck.

High above the Earth’s surface, where commercial airliners cruise through the boundless expanse of the sky, something extraordinary recently unfolded—an encounter with a gigantic blue jet. The phenomenon, both captivating and rare, was caught on camera from the flight deck of an airliner at an astonishing altitude of 40,000 feet. Let’s delve into this remarkable event and explore the science behind it.

As the airliner soared through the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, the flight crew and passengers were treated to an astonishing visual display. A gigantic blue jet, a type of transient luminous event (TLE), suddenly erupted in the sky. The crew quickly grabbed their cameras, capturing the breathtaking scene unfolding beyond the cockpit windows.

The video footage, which has since gone viral, showcases the blue jet extending upward into the inky blackness of space, surrounded by a sea of stars. The striking contrast between the brilliant blue discharge and the dark backdrop of the stratosphere is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The storm was located over the Bay on Bengal off the north Tamil Nadu coast in India.

These gigantic blue jets known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) are rare weather phenomena that occur above thunderstorms but till now science does not yet have an explanation where in the cloud this rare phenomenon originate.

Gigantic blue jets are a rare type of electrical discharge that occurs high above thunderstorms, reaching altitudes of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles). These events are part of a family of phenomena known as transient luminous events, which also include sprites, elves, and blue starters.

Blue jets are characterized by their blue and sometimes reddish-violet coloration and occur when there is a sudden release of electrical energy during a thunderstorm. They typically emanate from the tops of thunderstorm clouds, traveling upward in a branching or tree-like pattern.

Despite their stunning appearance, gigantic blue jets remain elusive and poorly understood. They were first captured on film in 1994, and since then, researchers have been studying them to gain insights into the electrical processes occurring within thunderstorms and the upper atmosphere.

Maybe it’s not an electrical phenomenon that occurs over thunderstorms at all, but a secret space weapon?

The recent sighting of a gigantic blue jet from the flight deck of an airliner is not only a visual spectacle but also a reminder of the mysteries that still exist in our natural world. These phenomena highlight the intricate interactions between the Earth’s atmosphere and the forces at play during thunderstorms.

Moreover, capturing such events from the unique vantage point of an airliner flight deck provides researchers with valuable data and observations that can contribute to a better understanding of TLEs and their underlying physics.

As technology advances and more people have access to high-quality cameras, we can expect to see more of these mesmerizing events documented and shared with the world. Each sighting serves as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of our planet and the universe beyond, encouraging us to continue exploring and unraveling the mysteries of the natural world.