Love's In The Air: Newlyweds Draw Hearts In Sky

A newly married pilot and his cabin crew wife were treated to a romantic flight to celebrate their marriage - leaving aviation geeks baffled.

Followers of online tracking services such as flightradar24.com took to social media in confusion as a plane departing from Malta International Airport proceeded to fly in a heart shape around the island.

Their bewilderment intensified when flight KM 14JC continued flying as it approached the airport, creating a second heart-shaped flightpath over the Mediterranean.

But a quick glance at Malta International's arrivals board went some way towards solving the mystery - showing 'JUST MARRIED' as the flight's status.

An Air Malta spokeswoman told Sky News the pair had been married earlier in the day at the airport itself.

"They are both members of staff at Air Malta," she said.

"He is a pilot and she is a member of the cabin crew. They were joined on the flight by family, friends and colleagues who had been at the wedding.

"I think it was a very romantic flight. They flew close to Sicily, so they could see Mount Etna through the window."

Social media users were split in their views of the nuptial stunt.

Twitter user Peter Depuydt asked: "Creative training flights?", before saying: "Life is still awesome" as the truth behind the flight emerged.

Another, Aoife Sherwin wrote: "Love in the air over Malta! PR stunt or marriage proposal?! @AirMalta brilliant either way!"

But not everyone was entirely overwhelmed by the romantic caper, with Twitter user Paul Kingston appearing to joke: "This Air Malta plane clearly loves dumping fuel."