Canadian pilot draws tribute to George Floyd in skies above Canada

The pilot said the words of George Floyd ‘I can't Breathe’ "came to mind a few times."
The pilot said the words of George Floyd ‘I can't Breathe’ "came to mind a few times." Photo credit: Flightaware.com

A pilot in Canada has taken the Black Lives Matter movement to a new height, drawing the raised fist symbol that has become the icon of the movement across the skies of Nova Scotia.

But the symbol wasn't visible from the ground. Pilot Dimitri Neonakis' drawing was only able to be seen by users of flight tracking websites such as Flight Radar or Flight Aware.

The 610km flight took around two-and-a-half hours to complete.

Neonakis posted a message about the flight on his Facebook page.

"For George."

"Today I flew this 330 nautical mile flight pattern which took the shape of a movement symbol which I respect and support.

"While I was up there moving around free, the words of George Floyd ‘I can't Breathe’ came to mind a few times, a stark contrast."

"I see a World of one race in multi colours - this is the World I see, and this is my message !! End Racism," Neonakis posted.

The pilot said planning and undertaking special tribute flights had become his COVID-19 hobby.

He's also drawn flight paths to entertain his daughter and a friend who survived cancer.