Have you ever wondered what would happen if lightning struck a commercial aircraft in the middle of a flight? Such an occasion happened when lightning hit a United jet on its way to Cleveland, Ohio from Chicago, Illinois on Thursday evening.
Fortunately, no deaths were reported, but the lightning strike led to one injury as well as multiple damages to the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a detailed report on the incident.
An Electrifying Flight
A bolt of lightning hit a United Airlines jet in the middle of flight UA2226 on Thursday. The Boeing 737-800 departed Chicago O’Hare International airport at 1607 Central Standard Time.
Despite a storm over Lake Erie, the plane landed safely at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The 55 minute flight landed without further incident. With its 13th year in service, the Boeing 737 flew three other times that day.
While no witness testimonials were made public, the FAA confirmed the Boeing was struck by lightning in a Friday report. The force of nature reportedly damaged the frame, cracked the windshield, and left burn marks on the tail.
The report also revealed that a member of the flight crew suffered minor injuries and was receiving medical treatment. There is no information on the identity of the crew member or how the incident happened.
The 737 had been since grounded for at least 21 hours after the Thursday evening flight.
Lightning Strikes on Commercial Flights
Lightning striking a commercial plane during a flight does happen from time to time. In many cases, nobody on board can indicate if lightning makes contact with the aircraft.
Usually, the aircraft is durable enough to withstand lightning and protect the people on board. Decades ago, however, airlines would worry about lightning’s exposure to the plane’s fuel tank.
One of the most infamous lightning strikes affected Pan Am Flight 214. Lightning caused the fuel tank to catch fire. The Boeing 707-121 crashed after 35 minutes being in the air, killing all 81 people on board.
In March 2024, an Air Canada aircraft was recorded on video as a bolt of lightning traveled through it. The aircraft continued to travel as normal. This incident occurred as the plane was departing Vancouver International Airport in Canada.
In August 2024, a flight crew did have an indication that lightning struck the Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 they were working on. The Rome, Italy-bound jet made a U-turn and returned to Boston only five minutes into the flight. No injuries were reported.
