US Coast Guard spreads festive cheer with huge 'Ho Ho Ho' flight path over Puerto Rico
Published on Dec 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Dec 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Daisy Edwards
The US Coast Guard has spread festive cheer with a huge “Ho Ho Ho” flight path over Puerto Rico, and the holiday spirit went totally viral.
A Jayhawk helicopter crew traced the words ‘ho ho ho’ across the sky as they flew over the island.
The crew had Santa and an elf on board as they headed on their way to a community event for the children of Puerto Rico.
The festive message turned a routine flight (sans reindeer) into a FlightRadar Christmas card.
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The US Coast Guard has been spreading festive cheer
The US Coast Guard set off in its MH-60 T Jayhawk helicopter, which had departed Arecibo, before heading towards the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in the northwest of Puerto Rico.
While waiting for new instructions, the crew used the time to do a flight path spelling out a “Ho Ho Ho” visible on Flightradar24.
The Coast Guard later confirmed the pattern was intentional and designed to bring holiday cheer to local families.
The move was part of the station’s seasonal outreach, with the helicopter delivering Santa to an event for excited children in Aguadilla.
Ho Ho Ho flight path
The crew executed a series of precise loops and turns to form each letter in cursive over the Caribbean Sea.
The message stood out as one of the more wholesome flight path drawings seen on a tracking map.
Aviation fans quickly picked up the pattern and began sharing screenshots across social platforms and FlightRadar itself drew attention to the inadvertent holiday card through its X account.
The helicopter’s path doubled as both a festive greeting and a showcase of precise helicopter flying and handling.
It brought a rare mix of military aviation and Christmas fun to the skies, and for anyone watching the radar that day, the message came through loud and clear – Merry Christmas!
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
