Prague skies set for dramatic jet color display over Charles Bridge today

Two Czech JAS-39 Gripen fighters and 10 jets from Britain’s Red Arrows aerobatic team are set to roar over central Prague at 3 p.m. Thursday. They will pass low above Charles Bridge with colorful smoke to salute the Czech Air Force and mark 80 years since the end of World War II.

The unusual flyover co-organized by the British Royal Airforce (RAF) is expected to draw crowds along the Vltava River and across the city center. The brief display means both a rare chance to see elite pilots in action and a warning about sudden jet noise in an urban area.

According to the Czech Army, the formation will fly at about 300 meters above ground level, beginning over the river before turning toward Kbely and continuing to Mošnov near Ostrava for the weekend NATO Days and Czech Air Force Days. Organizers cautioned that timing or routing could change with weather or air-traffic conditions.

Residents and visitors who want to watch are advised to arrive early at riverfront spots or elevated areas with clear views of the Vltava corridor, and to keep pets and young children in mind when jets approach, as noise will be intense but brief.

For those living or working in the center, the main impacts will be temporary noise and possible brief closures of river embankments or rooftops used for viewing. City authorities have not announced street closures, but crowding is likely near Charles Bridge and Old Town riverbanks.

Prague 5 officials posted an advisory on Facebook asking people not to panic at the sound of jets. “The planes will fly at a height of 300 meters above the ground, the noise will be short-lived. Please do not panic: this is a planned event of the Czech Army,” the district office said.

“A flyover over Prague is an absolute rarity, and a flyover over Charles Bridge is a completely unique event,” said Jan Tvrdík of the Air Force Headquarters, inviting people to witness the spectacle. The Red Arrows, formed in 1964, are famed for tight formations with nine scarlet BAE Hawk T1 aircraft, flown by pilots experienced on Eurofighter Typhoons.

The flyover comes as NATO members highlight alliance cooperation during air shows across Europe. Prague last hosted a similar display in March 2024 for the 25th anniversary of Czech accession to NATO, though that event did not include Britain’s famous aerobatic team.

Weather permitting, the Red Arrows will continue east to appear at NATO Days in Ostrava on Saturday and Sunday, alongside Czech and allied aircraft. Organizers recommend checking the Czech Army’s social media channels for updates in case of schedule or route changes.