A total solar eclipse that took place across the Southeast Asian country Indonesia and Pacific Ocean attracted thousands of people on March 9, Wednesday. In addition, over 160 Alaska Airlines passengers traveling from Anchorage to Honolulu were treated to a flight plan change so they could view the spectacular total eclipse of the sun from about 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) in the air.

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Flight 870 of the Alaskan airline was transporting 163 passengers to Hawaii's capital city. It changed its departure time due to the request of a customer.

Joe Rao is an astronomer who had calculated that the Alaska-to-Hawaii flight would cross the "path of totality" of the eclipse, according to CNET. That is the region on Earth where people could view the solar eclipse.

Rao made the request for the schedule change one year ago. The associate astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium in New York City realized at that eclipse would cross the flight's path nearly half an hour before the flight arrived, according to USA Today.  

Rao contacted Alaska Airlines and made his request to adjust the flight schedule, and submitted a flight plan that was developed by the University of Arizona. Officials decided to change the schedule so passengers could see the total eclipse while in the sky.  

The flight was originally scheduled to depart 25 minutes too early. As a result Alaska Airlines delayed the flight 25 minutes so the passengers could view the rare event.

There were other astronomers and eclipse chasers on the flight to Honolulu. They included astronomer Craig Small who has seen all 31 total solar eclipses since 1973.

Small explained in a statement that it is the most amazing event in nature that any person could witness during their lifetime.

The next total solar eclipse will take place across the entire continent of North America. It will be on Aug. 21, 2017.  

People in Indonesia reacted in different ways as they saw the solar eclipse on Wednesday. Some watched with wonder while others cheered or prayed as entire cities were covered in darkness.

The astronomical event was seen along a path that included 12 provinces, three time zones, and around 40 million people. Thousands of foreigners visited the country for the big event.