COVID-19: Flight carrying medical supplies from China draws heart over hospitals for healthcare workers

A pilot of Icelendair —  flag carrier airline of Iceland — has drawn a heart in the sky over hospitals in the capital city of Reykjavík to thank healthcare workers for their bravery and dedication during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Reykjavík Grapevine — an Icelandic magazine –, during a recent flight from China, the anonymous pilot of the Boeing 767 aircraft drew a large heart with the plane’s flight path. It was an important journey of nearly 5,600 miles, as the Icelendair flight was importing much-needed medical supplies.

Before the flight landed, the plane doubled back to doodle a heart above two of the capital city’s hospitals. Though the change in course reportedly added another nine minutes to the flight, it was a heartfelt salute for the nation’s healthcare personnel.

The plane marked the last of three flights from China that have carried a total of some 50 tonnes of various medical supplies, including masks and protective suits, intended for Iceland’s healthcare workers treating those infected with the coronavirus.

As of Wednesday, 1,778 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported in Iceland. The viral disease has also claimed the lives of at least ten people in the Nordic island nation.