The pilot of the plane photographed the fires of St. Elmo during Hurricane Ian

An Airbus pilot flying from Miami to Denver during Hurricane Ian in September photographed St. Elmo's lights, a rare optical phenomenon that resembles a beam of purple lightning in the night sky, according to the Daily Mail.

St. Elmo's fires can be seen at very high electric field strengths in the atmosphere. Such discharges in the form of beams or brushes occur during thunderstorms, snowstorms, sandstorms, sea storms.

The captain of the plane, Louis Andress, who shared his pictures on social networks, saw the fire of St. Elmo during the flight, which coincided with the arrival of Hurricane Ian in Florida. Rated to the 4th, maximum, category, Ian hit Florida on September 28 and became the deadliest since the 1935 hurricane.