A commercial airplane and a cargo jet encountered lightning strikes in a severe European storm, leading to emergency maneuvers for the former.
According to the Daily Mail, the TUI aircraft from Brussels to Hurghada had to divert back immediately after being struck by a lightning bolt right after takeoff.
The TUI plane encountered a lightning strike shortly after it departed from Brussels Airport. Onboard passengers heard a loud bang accompanied by a flash of light.
Following the harrowing experience, passengers detected a "slight burning smell," adding to the already tense atmosphere. The pilot promptly decided to return to Brussels Airport as a precautionary measure.
"The plane returned to the airport as a precaution," confirmed Piet Demeyere, a spokesperson for TUI. The decision prioritized passenger safety, leading to an unplanned yet necessary itinerary change.
Upon landing safely back in Brussels, those aboard were provided with accommodations in hotels. They continued their journey to Hurghada the following day on a new flight.
Meanwhile, a separate incident on the same day showed a cargo plane also receiving a direct lightning strike. Captured on dashcam footage along the Brussels ring road, the aircraft was visibly electrified but continued on its route to Qatar without incident.
The occurrence with the cargo plane was a spectacle, as the lightning visibly passed through the entire fuselage, brightening the surrounding night sky. Despite this, the aircraft did not have to make an emergency return to the airport, highlighting different outcomes in similar circumstances.
Flight data from FlightRadar24 illustrated that the TUI flight departed at 1:35 PM local time on December 22, and its path indicated an unmistakable return loop to Brussels Airport.
A historical perspective shows that these incidents are not isolated. For instance, a British Airways flight was similarly struck by lightning in July while approaching Heathrow Airport, leading to a diversion to Gatwick. "The crew was amazing when our flight got struck by lightning," noted passenger Jeco, commending the professionals on board.
Passenger Robert Rossall shared his experience, "The captain decided to land at the safer airport given the conditions and lightning strike. Once on the tarmac, he was informative and even walked the length of the plane to talk to all the passengers. The cabin crew passed around bottled water and were calming. [It was] very professionally handled."
Aviation experts, including airline pilot Doug Morris, explain that while disturbing, lightning strikes to airplanes are typically a minor concern. They emphasize that aircraft are engineered to withstand such occurrences, usually resulting in minimal damage.
The reinforcement of safety measures and rapid response strategies continue to be pivotal in handling such unforeseeable events in aviation, demonstrating the resilience and preparedness of flight crews and airport management. These repeated incidents underscore the technological advancements in aircraft design that allow these machines to sustain and operate through electrical storms with adeptness.
