Now this is how you spread some high-flying holiday cheer. Over the weekend, a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter turned the Caribbean skies into its own personal Christmas card, writing out a festive “Ho Ho Ho” while ferrying none other than Santa Claus and his elf—yes, you read that right—across Puerto Rico. And if you’re thinking this sounds like something out of a Hallmark-meets-Top-Gun mashup… you’re not wrong.
According to flight tracking site Flightradar24, the chopper—registered as C6038—took off from Arecibo, Puerto Rico and was en route to Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen near Aguadilla. But before the sleigh, er, helicopter touched down, the crew decided to take a few joy loops over the Caribbean and spell out jolly ol’ Saint Nick’s signature laugh in the sky.
And no, this wasn’t an accidental case of creative autopilot. The Coast Guard confirmed that this skywriting stunt was entirely intentional, all done while waiting on final instructions before delivering Santa and his pointy-eared co-pilot to a holiday event in Aguadilla.
Now imagine being on the beach, sipping your morning coffee, and looking up to see “Ho Ho Ho” dancing across the radar. That’s the kind of surprise you don’t forget.
The Coast Guard’s statement hit all the right notes—celebration, reflection, and community.
They said this time of year gives crews a moment to look back at their efforts and to engage with families and local residents in a more joyful, relaxed way. And hey, after a year of serious missions ranging from law enforcement to life-saving rescues at sea, who’s going to fault the team for taking a creative detour?
Military pilots have long had a reputation for artistic skywriting—some wholesome, some definitely not—but this one landed squarely in the “charming” category.
No questionable shapes, no cheeky jabs—just three simple words to remind everyone on the radar that the holidays are here and the Coast Guard knows how to have a little fun with it.
So, whether it was Santa, his elf, or just some creative flight crew brainstorming in the cockpit, it worked. The holiday spirit flew high over Puerto Rico, and the Jayhawk crew gave new meaning to “spreading cheer from above.”
