Lightning snakes along the window. I am in the cockpit of the flight from Johannesburg to Zurich and looking out into the night fascinated by a play of light. The phenomenon is called St. Elmo's fire and is caused by a thunderstorm about 50 km away. The light phenomenon, caused by electrical charges, takes place right before our eyes. I pull out my mobile phone camera and at the same time have the pilots explain to me that the appearance of the harmless St Elmo's fire is rather rare to observe. The natural spectacle is mainly observed on routes to and from Johannesburg, Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok. Their geographical location and the warm and humid climate promote the potential for thunderstorms and thus the development of a moose fire. It is therefore rare to witness this spectacular phenomenon on flights over Europe.

During a thunderstorm, small, charged ice crystals, or more precisely water droplets, are discharged by means of friction on the cockpit window. Eruption clouds consisting of volcanic ash could also cause the same phenomenon. The only difference is, that areas affected by a volcanic eruption will not be flown to.

Pilots often notice an St. Elmo's fire shortly before it occurs. Pilots describe that the light phenomenon is usually announced by an electrical-static smell in the cockpit.

Since I started working as a flight attendant, I have been able to experience the St. Elmo's fire several times from the cockpit and capture it on camera. Again and again, I am captivated by this visually stunning weather phenomenon.