TOKYO- A Japan Airlines (JL) plane headed to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) was hit by lightning twice shortly after departing from Miyazaki Airport (KMI) on April 3 afternoon.
The lightning struck near the nose of the Boeing 737 aircraft at about 2:55 p.m., approximately five minutes after takeoff of Japan Airlines Flight 694.
Japan Airlines Lightning Strike
The incident occurred at an altitude of roughly 4,500 meters, about 9 kilometers north of Miyazaki Airport. As a precaution, the aircraft diverted to Kansai International Airport for inspection, landing at around 3:40 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 122 passengers and crew.
As per reports from Japan Airlines and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism’s Kansai airport office, a crew member detected an unusual smell inside the aircraft. Passengers disembarked at Kansai International and proceeded to the Tokyo metropolitan area via bullet trains or alternative flights.
Aircraft have needle-like devices that discharge energy into the air, aiming to safeguard the plane even if lightning strikes. No abnormalities were detected in the aircraft’s instruments during its journey to Kansai International. Japan Airlines is currently inspecting the aircraft to confirm there is no damage.
Similar Incident
During takeoff from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in March 2024, an Air Canada (AC) Boeing 777-300ER experienced a lightning strike.
The aircraft, which was set to embark on a 10-hour intercontinental journey from Canada’s West Coast to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), continued its flight after the incident and safely landed.
Despite Boeing facing ongoing challenges in quality control, this rare occurrence highlights the robust design of aircraft, showcasing their capability to withstand lightning strikes.
Ethan West, a planespotter and student pilot, found himself fortuitously situated in a park beyond the end of the runway when a Boeing 777 experienced a lightning strike during takeoff.
His initial purpose was to capture the aircraft’s departure, as the Boeing 777’s loud engines made it one of his favorite planes.
West expressed his curiosity about the potential outcome, pondering if the aircraft might need to divert due to established checklists. He acknowledged that there wouldn’t be any serious issues, but he was intrigued to know if passengers knew the situation.
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