20 Pilots Share Their Exciting, Weird, And Downright Terrifying In-Flight Experiences

Being a pilot carries a certain prestige because it's a highly skilled job. Plus, it doesn't hurt that every time you go to work, you have the best view.

It must be a heady combination of feelings: knowing that you can skillfully maneuver a flying metallic, gravity-defying object while being responsible for the lives on your aircraft.

Needless to say, flying a plane or a helicopter is a high-pressure job that comes with the best perks. Pilots get to travel from one country to the next and have experiences that only other pilots can truly understand.

Something we should ask pilots more about is the weird and petrifying things they see while flying. It comes with the job, doesn't it?

We're not talking about passengers going crazy 30,000 feet in the air, although we are certain they have those stories, too. We're more interested in the "you wouldn't believe it happened unless you were there" variety of stories.

For those with a fear of flying, we recommend you stop reading at this point because these stories won't ease your nerves at all. But for those who are curious about these unique tales, read on and discover what pilots shared in this r/AskReddit forum.

The question that got the ball rolling:

miercole_s

1. It's like high-stakes Charlotte's Web

helodriver87

2. Smoke in the cockpit, 2(!) almost mid-air collisions, and a meteor!

chrisbe2e9

3. Zero visibility while trying to land on a moving ship

Disownedpenny Disownedpenny Disownedpenny Disownedpenny

4. Uncle saw God and didn't care to elaborate on his divine experience

MangOrion2

5. A skydiver who jumped too close for comfort

Theskidiever

6. A missile that almost roasted a plane and everyone on board

NAbbott_737 NAbbott_737

7. A plane cartwheeling down the runway with serious injuries as a result

mrbrad595 mrbrad595

8. That's one unruly goose

robo-dragon

9. Bird strikes are common accidents in aviation, and they don't always end well

kirkl3s

10. 2 planes flying "butt-clenchingly" close to each other

furry_anus_destroyer furry_anus_destroyer

11. Tricky maneuvers on a huge aircraft

Polite_Heretic

12. Engine sputtering while flying

Tu-144D

13. Thunderstorms must be fascinating, beautiful, and scary all at once

JustAnotherAviatrix JustAnotherAviatrix

14. That's a messy lesson to learn, and also, those poor birds

titanic_trash titanic_trash titanic_trash

15. A clueless pilot who had no regard for other people

AutumnAtronach

16. Mystery smoke in the cabin, but hey, here's a $15 flight credit

drd711 drd711

17. That's just freedom trying to fly beside you

SaltyFiredawg

18. Finally, someone mentioned a blimp!

JayBeeJB89

19. Choose your demise: plummet to death or get attacked by a wild boar?

lavenderglobe91

20. The obligatory UFO post (honestly surprised there weren't more UFO sightings)

cfu48

How cool is it that humans can fly so high that we can touch clouds? It must be amazing to be a pilot, but based on those stories, it's equally frightening as well.

At least with their job, there will never be a "just another day at the office" scenario. No two days will be the same, and thanks to that, we'll never have a shortage of interesting in-flight stories.

The next time you fly, don't forget to thank your crew for making sure you reach your destination safely. We only get a glimpse of their experiences during those delayed flights we love to complain about.