This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
This May 8 file photo of the Bogoslof volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands shows a crater now filled by a warm saltwater lake. The volcano erupted on Bogoslof Island on Sunday, May 28, producing an ash cloud that reached up to 45,000 feet, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Alaska Volcano Observatory
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
Villagers look on as Mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash in Karo, Indonesia, on Friday, May 19.
Ivan Damanik/AFP/Getty Images
The Turrialba volcano spews smoke and ash in May 2016 in Cartago, Costa Rica. Experts say it is the strongest eruption from the volcano in the past six years.
The Turrialba volcano spews smoke and ash in May 2016 in Cartago, Costa Rica. Experts say it is the strongest eruption from the volcano in the past six years.
EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP/Getty Images
The Pavlof volcano erupts on Alaska's remote Aleutian Island archipelago in March 2016.
The Pavlof volcano erupts on Alaska's remote Aleutian Island archipelago in March 2016.
Colt Snapp/Alaska Volcano Observatory
The Ecuadorian volcano Tungurahua spews lava and ash in Cahuaji, about 80 miles south of Quito, in February 2016. Authorities raised the alert level from yellow to orange after the volcano increased its activity and projected a column of ash 3 miles high.
The Ecuadorian volcano Tungurahua spews lava and ash in Cahuaji, about 80 miles south of Quito, in February 2016. Authorities raised the alert level from yellow to orange after the volcano increased its activity and projected a column of ash 3 miles high.
JUAN CEVALLOS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Soputan volcano spews lava and ash during an eruption on Indonesia's Sulawesi island in January 2016.
The Soputan volcano spews lava and ash during an eruption on Indonesia's Sulawesi island in January 2016.
Adwit B Pramono/ANTARA FOTO/Reuters/Landov
The Momotombo volcano erupts just before daybreak in Leon, Nicaragua, on December 4, 2015. The volcano had been quiet for many years.
The Momotombo volcano erupts just before daybreak in Leon, Nicaragua, on December 4, 2015. The volcano had been quiet for many years.
Esteban Felix/AP
Smoke rises over the Italian city of Taormina during an eruption of Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, in December 2015.
Smoke rises over the Italian city of Taormina during an eruption of Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, in December 2015.
GIOVANNI ISOLINO/AFP/Getty Images
Cotopaxi, a volcano in Ecuador, sends large gray puffs of ash into the sky on August 14, 2015. Officials <a >declared a yellow alert</a>, the lowest level.
Cotopaxi, a volcano in Ecuador, sends large gray puffs of ash into the sky on August 14, 2015. Officials declared a yellow alert, the lowest level.
Getty Images
Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from <a >Mount Sinabung</a> in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
Thick ash, rock fragments and volcanic gases pour from Mount Sinabung in Indonesia. The government's natural disaster management agency raised the alert level on June 5, 2015.
Ahmad Zikri Mohamad Zuki/CNN iReport
Mount Shindake spews ash on Kuchinoerabu Island in Yakushima, Japan, in May 2015. The volcano <a target="_blank">erupted shortly before 10 a.m. local time</a>, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Mount Shindake spews ash on Kuchinoerabu Island in Yakushima, Japan, in May 2015. The volcano erupted shortly before 10 a.m. local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
The Wolf volcano at Isabela Island -- the largest of the Galapagos Islands west of mainland Ecuador -- erupts May 25, 2015 <a >for the first time in 33 years.</a>
The Wolf volcano at Isabela Island -- the largest of the Galapagos Islands west of mainland Ecuador -- erupts May 25, 2015 for the first time in 33 years.
Diego Paredes Photo/AP
The Calbuco volcano erupts near Puerto Varas, Chile, in April 2015.
The Calbuco volcano erupts near Puerto Varas, Chile, in April 2015.
Carlos F. Gutierrez/ap
Smoke rises from the Turrialba volcano in Turrialba, Costa Rica, in March 2015. Eruptions of ash and stones prompted authorities to evacuate residential areas.
Smoke rises from the Turrialba volcano in Turrialba, Costa Rica, in March 2015. Eruptions of ash and stones prompted authorities to evacuate residential areas.
Kent Gilbert/Xinhua/Landov
The Fuego volcano spews a cloud of ash west of Guatemala City, Guatemala, in March 2015.
The Fuego volcano spews a cloud of ash west of Guatemala City, Guatemala, in March 2015.
Esteban Biba/EFE/Sipa USA
Villarrica, a Chilean volcano, began erupting in March 2015. The volcano is one of Chile's most active.
Villarrica, a Chilean volcano, began erupting in March 2015. The volcano is one of Chile's most active.
ARIEL MARINKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images
Lava flows from the Kilauea volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii, in October 2014. The flow picked up speed, prompting emergency officials to close part of the main road through town and tell residents to be prepared to evacuate.
Lava flows from the Kilauea volcano in Pahoa, Hawaii, in October 2014. The flow picked up speed, prompting emergency officials to close part of the main road through town and tell residents to be prepared to evacuate.
From USGS
Japan's Mount Sakurajima erupts in September 2014. It was the second volcano in two days to erupt in Japan.
Japan's Mount Sakurajima erupts in September 2014. It was the second volcano in two days to erupt in Japan.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Dense white plumes rise high in the air as Mount Ontake erupts in central Japan in September 2014.
Dense white plumes rise high in the air as Mount Ontake erupts in central Japan in September 2014.
Kyodo News/AP
Mount Slamet spews lava and gas during an eruption in Brebes, Indonesia, in September 2014.
Mount Slamet spews lava and gas during an eruption in Brebes, Indonesia, in September 2014.
Idhad Zakaria/AP
Fountains of lava spurt from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland in September 2014.
Fountains of lava spurt from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland in September 2014.
Stefano Di Nicolo/AP
Mount Tavurvur erupts in Papua New Guinea in August 2014, forcing local communities to evacuate.
Mount Tavurvur erupts in Papua New Guinea in August 2014, forcing local communities to evacuate.
OLIVER BLUETT/AFP/Getty Images
The Karymsky volcano erupts in Kamchatka, Russia, in January 2013.
The Karymsky volcano erupts in Kamchatka, Russia, in January 2013.
Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images
The Copahue volcano emits smoke and ash above Caviahue, in Argentina's Neuquen province, in December 2012.
The Copahue volcano emits smoke and ash above Caviahue, in Argentina's Neuquen province, in December 2012.
Antonio Huglich/AFP/Getty Images
Western Mexico's Colima volcano emits lava in October 2004. The Global Volcanism Program reported "a bright thermal anomaly" as well as gas emission in November 2013.
Western Mexico's Colima volcano emits lava in October 2004. The Global Volcanism Program reported "a bright thermal anomaly" as well as gas emission in November 2013.
IVAN GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images
Recently active volcanoes

Story highlights

Icelandair pilot loops back to give passengers a better view of Bardarbunga

Volcanic activity around Bardabunga recently caused Iceland to raise an aviation alert

In 2010 an Icelandic volcano caused weeks of disruption to flights to and from Europe

CNN  — 

Erupting Icelandic volcanoes have been known to ground flights, but this time they kept one up in the air as a pilot looped around to give passengers a better view of the spectacle.

The extraordinary detour over the smoke and lava-spewing Bardarbunga volcano was captured on camera by one passenger and the image was later posted on Twitter by the airline.

“Our pilot made an extra circle around #Bardarbunga this morning to let passengers check it out,” it said, thanking Erla Vinsy for the photo.

“Taking a short detour via a circle back around the eruption area, passengers on both sides of the aircraft were treated to an aerial view of the eruption while flying safely over the center of the action,” Icelandair said in statement released later.

It’s not often passenger plane pilots turn tour guide, with most sticking to dry commentary about airspeed, altitude and weather and confining off-flightpath maneuvers to holding patterns above busy airports.

Volcanic activity around Bardarbunga in August prompted Iceland’s Meteorological Office to briefly raise the aviation threat level to red, its highest.

There were fears of a repeat of the travel chaos of 2010 when a huge eruption from another Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, led to weeks of flight cancellations.

The alert related to Bardabunga was lowered to orange just days later and restrictions dropped, but officials said seismic activity was continuing at the volcano.

Volcanic ash can be a serious hazard to aircraft, reducing visibility, damaging flight controls and ultimately causing jet engines to fail.

From a safe distance though, it’s got to be worth a second look.

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