A LOT Polish Airlines flight, headed from Warsaw to Istanbul, experienced a lightning strike shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred on Tuesday around 1 PM local time, prompting the aircraft to return to Warsaw Chopin Airport.
Flight Details After Lightning Strike
Following the strike, the plane circled for several minutes with its landing gear down to burn off excess fuel before safely landing. Fortunately, no passengers were injured during this event.
Inspection and Aftermath
The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection due to the lightning strike. Krzysztof Moczulski, a spokesperson for LOT, confirmed that initial assessments showed no visible damage. He stated, “It is normal for lightning to strike planes, especially in spring.” He also mentioned that inspections typically take about two to three hours.
- The plane is expected to return to service within one day.
- Passengers were transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey to Istanbul.
The quick response from the flight crew ensured the safety of everyone onboard. Lightning strikes on aircraft are a well-known phenomenon, and modern aircraft are designed to withstand such occurrences.
