A scare yesterday afternoon for passengers on board a British Airways flight from Stuttgart, Germany (FRA) to Heathrow Airport (LHR). British Airways flight BA919, an Airbus A320, was struck by lightning while on approach to Heathrow, forcing a diversion to Gatwick Airport (LGW).
By Aditya M
Thankfully, there were no injuries reported, and the plane landed safely at Gatwick shortly before 2:00 pm BST. Passengers reported the incident on social media, with some praising the crew for their professionalism during the unexpected event.
While British Airways attributed the diversion to "weather related conditions," a passenger onboard, identified as Jeco, shared a photo of the lightning strike and confirmed it directly hit the aircraft.
A Smooth Landing at Gatwick
Despite the diversion, the incident seems to have caused minimal disruption. The flight landed safely at Gatwick, and passengers were reportedly bused to Heathrow to complete their journey.
While being struck by lightning is a dramatic event, modern aircraft are designed to withstand such strikes. They are equipped with lightning protection systems that channel the electrical current through the fuselage and safely dissipate it away from critical systems and passengers.
Common Occurrence, Uncommon Experience
While a lightning strike on a plane might sound alarming, it's actually a relatively common occurrence. Experts estimate that airplanes are struck by lightning on average once or twice a year. The metal skin of the aircraft acts as a conductor, attracting the electrical current.
In most cases, a lightning strike doesn't cause any damage or pose a safety risk. However, as a precaution, pilots may choose to divert the aircraft to have it inspected by maintenance crews.
This incident highlights the importance of pilot training and the robust safety measures in place for air travel. The quick response of the crew and the design of the aircraft ensured a safe outcome for everyone on board.
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