From the September 2009 issue

Does flying in a plane underneath the aurora expose a person to radiation? Would it be dangerous?

Menachem Goren, Petach Tikva, Israel
By | Published: September 28, 2009 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

November 2009 charged particles
The charged particles from space that generate the aurora never come closer than about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.
Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Particles streaming into Earth’s atmosphere during times of intense solar activity could expose airline passengers to slightly higher radiation, but the dose is so small and infrequent that it does not represent a significant hazard.