Plane Struck by Lightning
Jan 27, 2020, 9:42 am
#1
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Plane Struck by Lightning
I just received a message from BA to tell me that my flight from RUH-LHR this evening is delayed as the inbound "aircraft requires lighting (sic) strike inspections on arrival into Riyadh."
Given that the aircraft didn't divert and continued onto Riyadh, I am assuming that this is no big deal and should only expect a very minor delay.
Any thoughts or insights from the FT community?
Given that the aircraft didn't divert and continued onto Riyadh, I am assuming that this is no big deal and should only expect a very minor delay.
Any thoughts or insights from the FT community?
Jan 27, 2020, 9:49 am
#3
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My last delay due to a lightning inspection delayed my 380 flight by about 3 hours. Just a data point. Don’t envy you being stuck in the dreary RUH lounge for longer than needed though
Jan 27, 2020, 9:57 am
#5
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really depends what they find, and also how quickly they find can get appropriate equipment to check the top of the aircraft.
Jan 27, 2020, 10:43 am
#8
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similar situation at JFK last year, inbound 777 struck by lightning. Delay for inspection was 3 hours as well.
Jan 27, 2020, 1:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2015
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A few years ago was just about to board a BHX-AMS flight when it was struck by lightning (i.e. whilst it was still on the ground) - had to delay boarding, then were directed to another flight.
(On a side, I've seen a lightning bolt descending from the cloud base, then take a 90-degree turn into a mountainside, and a lightning strike out of blue sky some 20 miles from the nearest cloud).
(On a side, I've seen a lightning bolt descending from the cloud base, then take a 90-degree turn into a mountainside, and a lightning strike out of blue sky some 20 miles from the nearest cloud).
Jan 27, 2020, 1:19 pm
#11
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I was once on a flight that was struck by lightning. It was the only time in 30 years of extensive travel that I asked myself (after seeing what appeared to be an explosion and feeling the plane shudder), “Is this bird still flying?” Of course we were and continued to our destination without any issue. (No idea how long the subsequent delay may have been.)
Jan 27, 2020, 1:39 pm
#12
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Almost exactly a year ago, I had not one but two lightning strikes about three minutes apart on a final approach into TLV. The Captain explained that ATC had not thought the cloud mass thunderous until it was too late to do anything other than continue flying through it. This was BA164 which landed mid afternoon, but in winter with very short days. They kept the 777 on the ground overnight, and folk sustained a 14 hour delay going home...
Jan 27, 2020, 2:38 pm
#14
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I would have though that lightning is included under extraordinary circumstances - it's not predictable where it will strike and not in the airlines control, so I can't see a 261 claim succeeding.
Jan 27, 2020, 2:49 pm
#15
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