Media: Air NZ flight struck by lightning

[Grant]

Passengers on an Air New Zealand flight from Wellington to Auckland yesterday afternoon were shaken by a lightning strike during their descent.

Auckland environmental consultant Gary Taylor, one of 120 passengers on the Boeing 737, said he saw "a ball of light" flashing up the sky outside the port side of the aircraft. That was accompanied by a clap of thunder, leaving passengers gasping and wondering what had happened.

But there was no apparent physical impact, and Mr Taylor was unaware that lightning had struck the aircraft until it landed about 3pm, and the flight captain made an announcement telling passengers what had happened. "He said there was a lightning strike at about 8000ft during our descent, and it did a little bit of damage to the plane."

Air NZ spokeswoman Tracey Palmer said the lightning had struck the aircraft's radome, which is on the nose and houses its weather radar antenna. But she said the flight was not endangered by the strike.

Lightning strike shakes fliers - 25 Jun 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[graemer]

Interesting that this made the papers... We missed our connection so as Qantas were organising putting us up in a hotel, the conversation was around an Argentine flight that was hit by lightning on approach to AKL. Ground staff were saying that it actually punctured the plane around the cockpit area.

Not sure how true is, but there was an Aerolineas Argentinas plane nosed in to the Air NZ maintenance hanger when we flew out this morning. There was nothing in the paper this morning though.

[Grant]

Well done Graemer, it took the Herald a week to catch up with your news story. It looks like 4 got hit in total



Lightning punched a hole in the nose of a jet carrying nearly 300 passengers as it came into Auckland last week.

The Lan Chile Airbus was one of two South American planes struck as they landed in a huge electrical storm.

The passengers, flying from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland, were left stranded overnight and the plane was grounded for two days while parts were flown in from South America.

One witness said the hole was the size of a dinner plate.

An Aerolineas Argentinas plane carrying a similar number of people was also damaged as New Zealand was pounded by almost 15,000 lightning strikes in 24 hours.

Neither airline wished to comment, but Auckland International Airport spokesman Richard Llewellyn confirmed both planes were damaged.

"There was quite a bit of lightning around them when they came in. The engineers checked them out once they landed, it was all fine."

Two Air New Zealand flights were also struck by lightning on Wednesday; one, a flight from Wellington to Auckland, hit as it was descending. Passengers on the Boeing 737 saw "a ball of light" to the left of the aircraft and heard a clap of thunder.

Lightning punches hole in plane - 29 Jun 2008 - Weather News - NZ Herald

[windy]

normaly they try to fly around CB's, but there has been that many of them, I guess that was impossible!,LOL

[Grant]

With 15,000 strikes in 24 hours, I'm not surprised - lol

[TokWW]

I was on a flight from Sydney to Singapore 4 years ago and left wing tip was struck by lightning - I guess the pilot thought he was skirting the danger. No harm done and the plane continued its flight, most peorple unaware of the strike.

Later, over Java on our return flight I was watching the clouds lightup like bedside lamps as if it were an exspenive toy that had many different lights in different places, and different layers of opaque shades - a strange remote isolated feeling. Weather can sure be fascinating!

[graemer]

Originally Posted by windy

normaly they try to fly around CB's, but there has been that many of them, I guess that was impossible!,LOL

Apparently the system that bit everyone was directly on the flight path, they couldn't avoid it. The two Chille flights were one behind the other. Don't know about the Air NZ flights though.

I see Wellington was closed to light aircraft today as it is so windy here. They are reporting 50knot gusts at the southern end of the runway at the moment. Aircraft using airbridges to load passengers were OK. It was deemed to dangerous for passengers to do the exposed walk to the smaller planes!

[TokWW]

I was on a flight once that landed and incredulously was sent back to CHCH as it was deemed too dangerous to disembark the plane with only the portable stairs and risk being blown over in the short run to the building! I think we were also lucky to land with almost a wingtip touch on reaching the runway... can't claim a touch but i know even the 737's struggle which i think this was - 35 years ago or so...