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Contact Photographer Zach Chelsky
What: UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 468 AIRBUS A320
Where: SEATTLE, WA
When: 06/22/2009
Who: (not released)
Why: UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 468 AIRBUS A320 AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE INFLIGHT, POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT ELEVATOR
George’s Point of View
Statistically, a large plane is hit by lightning an average of once every three years.
EasyJet flight U2-7435 had to make an emergency landing at London Stansted Airport, England, on July 5th.
The Airbus A319-100 plane heading from London Southend Airport, England, to Malaga, Spain, was diverted due to a bird strike.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
JetBlue flight B6-1443 had to divert for an emergency landing in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on June 28th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from Newark, New Jersey, to West Palm Beach, Florida, was diverted after smoke was noticed in the cockpit.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
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Contact photographer Erwin van Hassel
What: Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Vienna to Innsbruck
Where: Innsbruck
When: Oct 7th 2011
Who: 57 passengers
Why: The plane was descending over Innsbruck when it was struck by lightning. The crew aborted the approach, and returned to Vienna, where they made a safe landing. The decision was made to return to Vienna because appropriate inspection and repair could not be completed in Insbruck. The return flight was made at a lower altitude of 12,000 feet.
(I can just imagine how the passengers felt after experiencing a lightning strike, and then having to end up going back where they started, instead of landing.)
On arrival in Vienna, passengers were provided alternative bookings.
Pictured: An Emirates Airbus A330-243 over Dubai
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Contact photographer Vala
What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Dubai to Durban
Where: Durban
When: Dec 19th 2009
Who: 20 injuries
Why: Two hours after takeoff, the flight plunged for about ten seconds, on encountering severe turbulence which injured twenty. Trolleys, bags, passengers and flight attendants flew about and impacted the ceiling; and interior elements of the plane incurred damage (panels, wires, seating, etc…). A passenger on board was a doctor, and he treated the injuries. On landing at Durban, a dozen individuals were treated at the airport, and eight were taken to area hospitals. Injuries included a broken hand and several spinal injuries.
Turnaround for the flight was just over 4 hours.
TAP Portugal flight TP-352 made an emergency return to Portela Airport, Lisbon, Portugal, on November 18.
The Airbus A320-200, en-route from Lisbon to London, had to return in emergency due to an unusual odour smelled mid-air.
The plane landed safely.
All passengers aboard remained unharmed.
Vueling Airlines flight VY-6598 made an emergency landing at Tenerife–South Airport in Canary Islands, Spain, on November 10th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Zurich, Switzerland, but had to turn back after the crew needed to shut down one of the engines.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.