lightning

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    Chattanooga Emergency Landing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Joey Collura

    What: Airtran Boeing 717-200 en route from Washington to Atlanta
    Where: Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
    When: Mar 12 2010
    Who: 117 passengers
    Why: While en route to Atlanta, the flight diverted to Chattanooga due to Atlanta weather. On approach to Chattanooga, the Boeing was struck by lightning; it did, however make a safe landing at 4:13 p.m. While an alternative plane was provided for passengers, the Boeing that was hit by lightning is out of service pending inspection.

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    Lightning Strikes London Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Thomas Ernst

    What: Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-300 en route from London to Miami
    Where: London
    When: Mar 12th 2010
    Who: 231 passengers, 14 crew
    Why: After takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning. Experiencing a technical problem after the lightning strike, they dumped fuel (over the coast of N. Wales) and returned to London where they made a safe landing.

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    Luxair Lightning Strike, Lands with one Engine


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Tom Mousel

    What: Luxair de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Saarbruecken to Munich
    Where: 70 passengers
    When: Feb 24 2010
    Who: 70 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning.

    The lighting strike is probably the reason why an engine failed. The flight diverted to Luxembourg where it made a safe landing, and where they were able to arrange repairs.

    Passengers were provided overnight hotel accommodations, and scheduled to fly to Munich the next day.

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    Phoenix: Airbus Lightning Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Jet Photos
    Contact photographer Peter Van Dyke

    What: US Airways Airbus A321-200 en route from Phoenix to Fort Lauderdale
    Where: Phoenix
    When: Jan 27th 2010
    Who: 175 aboard
    Why: Not long after takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning. A quarter hour after takeoff, the plane was back on the ground. A replacement jet was provided while the Airbus went in for examination

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    Flight Update: Ethiopian Death Toll Rising

    By nightfall tonight, 34 bodies have been recovered.

    Investigative crews sort through baby sandals, and airplane parts drifting ashore. People are questioning why the flight was not delayed due to the storm raging at the time of takeoff.

    The USS-Ramage, and US P-3 surveillance aircraft are helping with search and rescue efforts.

    The plane was last serviced on Dec. 25.

    Reports abound that the plane was seen to be on fire on its way down. If reports of an engine fire proved to be correct, it would have been difficult to handle at such a low altitude; but reports of a lighting strike, compounded by poor visibility and high winds compounded by a bird strike are equally as possible.

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    Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Struck by Lightning

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Oakland to Burbank
    Where: Burbank
    When: January 20, 2010 9:57
    Who: 81 passengers
    Why: While en route from Sacramento, the Boeing 737 was struck by lightning. The plane landed safely at Bob Hope Airport, and was examined for damage from the lightning strike.

    Two individuals aboard this flight were taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment.

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    SouthWest Airlines Boeing Struck by lightning

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Sacramento to Burbank
    Where: Burbank
    When: January 20, 2010 9:38
    Who: 69 passengers
    Why: While en route from Sacramento, the Boeing 737 was struck by lightning. The plane landed safely at Bob Hope Airport, and was examined for damage from the lightning strike.

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    EasyJet Lightning Strike


    Pictured: An EasyJet Airline Airbus A319-111
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Daniel Villa

    What: Easyjet Airbus 319 en route from Gatwick to Lanzarote
    Where: Nantes
    When: Sunday November 29, 8.30am.
    Who: 136 passengers
    Why: After a takeoff during stormy weather, the plane was struck by lightning. The plane returned to London and made a safe landing. After landing, the plane was checked out and deemed safe, and went on to make the flight to Lanzarote.

    A passenger describes the experience.

    “There was a huge flash and a loud bang. The plane shuddered and there was quite a lot of turbulence, the worst I’ve ever experienced. Then the aircraft suddenly dropped dramatically and some people were quite scared. As we landed back in Gatwick, we had fire-engines chasing us down the runway.”

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    Air France Struck By Lightning


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Olivier Corneloup

    What: Air France Boeing 747-400 en route from Miami to Paris, France
    Where: Atlantic Ocean
    When: Oct 26th 2009
    Who: Not Available
    Why: An hour after leaving Miami, the flight had technical trouble arising from a possible lightning strike. After spending nearly an hour trying to fix the issue, the flight turned back, landing back in Miami 2 and 3/4 hours after leaving. Passengers were provided transport on another Boeing 25 hours later.

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    JAC: Lightning Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner

    What: JAC Japan Air Commuter Saab 340B en route from Kagoshima to Takamatsu
    Where: Kagoshima
    When: Oct 2nd 2009
    Who: 20 people on board
    Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning. As a safety measure, in spite of no visible damage, the crew decided to return to the airport, where the passengers debarked and were referred to alternative flights.

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    Lightning Strikes Flybe


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Darren Wilson

    What: Flybe de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Cardiff
    Where: Exeter
    When: Jul 27th 2009
    Who: 51 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning. The flight diverted to its base of operations in Exeter where it landed safely one hour and 45 minutes later. Passengers were transferred to an alternative plane which took them to their destination.

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    Airbus A320 Struck By Lightning


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    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.

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    Lighting Strikes Airbus


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Stam
    What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from Dublin to London
    Where: Dublin Airport
    When: Jun 6th 2009 11: 30 am.
    Who:
    Why: Coming out of London the Airbus was struck by lightning. The flight returned to London, and landed safely. Passengers debarked half an hour after they had gotten on, and booked other flights as the Airbus was examined for damage.

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    Air France Press Releases

    Flight Air France 447 Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle

    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 16:44 local time
    Press release N° 4
    Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board AF flight 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared somewhere between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

    Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and friends: counselling with physicians and psychologists as well as specially trained Air France volunteers has been set up at the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro.

    Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the attention of relatives and friends of passengers who may have been on board. They can use this number to obtain information on whether or not a member of their family or friends was on board.

    Phone number reserved for relatives and friends

    0800 800 812 in France,
    0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.

    Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.

    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.

    Português
    Air France dirige suas sinceras condolências às famílias e amigos dos passageiros e membros da tripulação que se encontravam a bordo do voo AF 447 do dia 31 de maio, desaparecido entre o Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle.

    A Air France está concentrando todos os seus esforços em dar suporte às famílias e parentes: uma assistência psicológica foi instalada no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 e no aeroporto do Rio de Janeiro. Ela é composta de médicos e psicólogos, assim como voluntários da empresa, especialmente treinados para estas situações.

    A empresa também colocou à disposição um número de telefone toll free especial de atendimento às famílias dos passageiros. Ela informa, conforme solicitação, de uma eventual presença a bordo de um familiar.

    Números de telefone reservados às famílias
    0800 881 20 20 para o Brasil,
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    Air France comunicará outras informações assim que elas estiverem disponíveis.

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:59 local time
    Press release N° 3
    Air France has sent all the information in its possession on the disappearance of flight AF 447 operating the Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle route to the French Accident Investigation Bureau for civil aviation (BEA), the French organization in charge of technical investigations into civil aviation incidents and accidents, and to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Air France is in permanent contact with the BEA and Airbus.

    The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris). The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4:14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit in an area a long way off the coast.

    The aircraft was powered with General Electric CF6-80E engines.

    The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
    Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.

    Air France shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.

    A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 in France,
    at 0800 881 20 20 in Brazil
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.

    Português

    Air France informou ao Bureau de Investigação e Análises para a Segurança de Aviação civil, organismo responsavél na França pelas investigações técnicas sobre acidentes e incidentes da aviação civil, e para a Airbus, fabricante do avião, as informações que tem em seu poder após o desaparecimento do voo AF 447, fazendo a ligação Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle : a companhia está em contato permanente com o Bureau e com a Airbus.

    A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).

    A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.

    A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.

    O avião tem um total de 18 870 horas de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.

    A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no Salão Nobre do Galeão.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:10 local time
    Press release N° 2
    Air France regrets to confirm the disappearance of flight AF 447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, scheduled to arrive at 11:10am local time today, as announced to the press by Air France CEO, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

    The Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris).

    The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4 :14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit a long way from the coast.

    The Brazilian, African, Spanish and French air traffic control centres all tried to make contact with flight AF 447 but to no avail. The French military air traffic control centre tried to detect the aircraft but did not succeed.

    216 passengers were on board: 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and one infant.

    There were 12 flight crew members: 3 pilots and 9 flight attendants.

    The flight captain had a record of 11,000 flight hours and had already flown 1,700 hours on Airbus A330/A340s.

    Of the two first officers, one had flown 3,000 flight hours (800 of which on the Airbus A330/A340) and the other 6,600 (2,600 on the Airbus A330/A340).

    The aircraft was powered by General Electric CF6-80E engines.

    The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
    Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.

    Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.

    A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 for calls from France,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
    NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.

    Português
    A Air France lamenta informar o desaparecimento do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris-Charles de Gaulle, chegada prevista às 11h10 (hora local), acaba de anunciar o Diretor Geral da Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

    A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).

    A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.

    O conjunto dos controles aéreos civis brasileiro, africano, espanhol e francês tentaram em vão estabelecer contato com o voo AF 447. O controle aéreo militar francês tentou detectar o avião, sem sucesso.

    216 passageiros estão a bordo : 126 homens, 82 mulheres, 7 crianças e um bebê.

    A tripulação é composta por 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.

    O comandante tem 11 mil horas de voo e já tinha efetuado 1700 horas no Airbus A330/A340.

    Os dois co-pilotos possuem: um 3000 horas de voo, sendo 800 horas em Airbus A330/A340 e o outro 6600, sendo 2 600 em Airbus A330/A340.

    A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.

    O avião tem um total de 18 870 heures de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.

    A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
    NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias
    Paris, 01 June 2009 – 13:31 local time
    First press release
    Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.

    The flight left Rio on 31 May at 7pm local time.

    216 passengers are on board.

    There are 12 crew members on board: 3 pilots and 9 cabin crew.

    The following toll-free number is available in France: 0800 800 812,
    and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 outside France.

    Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families of the passengers concerned. The families are been taken care of in a specially reserved area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 airport.

    Português

    Air France lamenta informar que se encontra sem notícias do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle, com chegada prevista às 11h15 da manhã (hora local).

    O voo decolou do Rio no dia 31 de maio às 19 horas locais.

    216 passageiros estão a bordo.

    A tripulação é composta de 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.

    Um toll free está disponível :
    0800 800 812 para a França,
    e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países

    A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.

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    Three Lightning Strikes A Charm.

    What: Republic Airlines Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of US Airways en route from Montreal to Philadelphia, PA
    Where: on approach to Philadelphia,
    When: Apr 22nd 2009
    Why: On approach, the airplane was struck by a lightning. The crew did not declare emergency and landed safely with no damage sustained.

    What: US Airways Boeing 757-200 en route from Saint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) to Philadelphia,PA
    Where: on approach to Philadelphia
    When: Apr 22nd 2009
    Who: 96 passengers and 7 crew
    Why: Although on approach, the plane was struck by lightning at 6000 feet, it landed safely 14 minutes later. Skin damage was reported. This was reportedly lightning strike number two.

    What: AirTran Airways Boeing 717-200 en route from Orlando,FL to Philadelphia,PA
    Where: on approach to Philadelphia
    When: Apr 22nd 2009
    Why: The crew declared emergency an emergency when their nose cone incurred a direct lightning strike. Fortunately the airplane landed safely on runway 27R. ( Runway 27L was still in the process of accommodating the prior lightning strike.) Strike number three.

    George’s Point of View

    This may be hindsight, but it seems to me like three different planes hit with lightning at the same city reportedly within a time span of minutes–maybe air traffic control should have checked weather.com or looked out the window or something…