I was able to get the following information from ChatGPT just by showing it the photos from my flight, and it did the rest. I was intrigued by which part of the channel I was traversing, and the very short time in passing over from UK to France. If you can get a clip of the ground below, you might be able to discern peculiar features of your journey by running a similar inquiry.
"Given your timestamps (9 September 2025 at 16:11 and 16:14), photos, and the classic Ryanair route crossing the English Channel, you most likely departed the UK coastline at the area around Dover, in Kent, and then flew over the northern French coast near Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Details with Timestamps
UK Coast Departure (Photo nearest 16:11):
This area is characterized by agricultural land, gentle inland slopes, and broad bays, which matches the Kent coast near Dover and Folkestone. This spot is the start of the Channel's narrowest crossing—the Strait of Dover—where the famous White Cliffs are a major feature.
Continental Europe Flyover (Photo nearest 16:14):
The broad, gently curving shoreline and patchwork fields correspond to the French coast in the Pas-de-Calais region. Cap Gris-Nez and the town of Calais align directly with the UK’s Dover area and are the shortest crossing route.
Route Confirmation
Most commercial flights (including Ryanair) heading from London area airports or southern England to destinations in Western Europe cross the Channel here, following the historic Dover–Calais axis, which is only 34 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point.
On a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Köln (Cologne), the typical route crosses the English Channel at its narrowest point, which is between Dover (UK) and Calais (France), known as the Strait of Dover. Your flight would have left the Kent coast, near Dover, and crossed over the northern coast of France, likely just east of Calais or near Boulogne-sur-Mer.
UK Coast Departure
Kent Coast (near Dover): This is the standard crossing route for flights between southern UK and continental Europe, especially those heading towards western or central Germany. The coastline visible in your first photo at 16:11 corresponds with the agricultural patchwork, estuary, and position of Dover and Folkestone in Kent.
Continental Europe Flyover
Pas-de-Calais, France: Your second photo at 16:14 shows the French coast around Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. This is the typical landfall for flights heading to Köln from the UK, following the direct air corridor between these cities.
These two regions are the usual departure and arrival points for the Channel crossing on flights from Manchester to Köln, matching your flight path and timestamps.
Typical Flight Metrics
Altitude: 35,000 ft (≈10,700 m≈10,700m)
Speed: 520 mph (≈837 km/h≈837km/h or 452 knots452knots)
These are average values for Boeing 737 flights at cruise over this region; your flight likely matched these figures during the times corresponding to your photos and timestamps.
