What happens if a plane is struck by lightning

Image : aapsky, Shutterstock. Aviation Explained. How dangerous is a lightning strike for an aircraft? Share this news. The prevention measures for the light striking incidents The lightning strike can affect airline operations and cause costly delays and service interruptions. This great AeroTime author has not written anything about himself yet. AeroTime Extra. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reddit Email.

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Thank you for subscribing! Please check your email and confirm subscription. It is interesting to note that lightning mostly strikes at near-freezing temperatures, during turbulence. Around 60 percent of all lightning strikes occur from March through July.

In most of the cases, lightning strikes are triggered by the aircraft itself. The reason is that lightning activity is more frequent passing through the clouds during the climb and descent phases of flight at an altitude of 1, to 4, meters. Although it may sound terrifying, lightning strikes to aircraft are relatively common but rarely pose a threat to its continued safe operation: aircraft incorporate extensive lightning strike protection and are, therefore, prepared to withstand the occurrence.

When struck by lightning, the aircraft must undergo a thorough inspection to ensure its airworthiness. Thus, prior to the next flight, the aircraft is grounded and thoroughly inspected for damage, affecting its availability. Check it out! Today, when an aircraft is struck by lightning, the result can range from little-to-no-damage. The occurrence can, however, be more serious, having resulted in extensive post-lightning strike repairs or even aircraft crashes in the past.

The fuselage acts like a Faraday cage, protecting the inside of the plane while the voltage moves along the outside of the container. Of course, these days, there are many aircraft in the skies that are constructed from a mix of composite parts and metal. Composite materials, such as carbon fiber laminate, do not conduct electricity as well as metal. Therefore, composite parts that are located in lightning-strike prone areas must be fitted with additional lighting protections.

These consist of an embedded layer of conductive fibers, such as mesh constructed from copper foil, to direct the current. The lightning exits another extremity of the aircraft, such as the tip of the tail.

It will then continue to the opposite polarity in the cloud structure. However, if it cannot find an opposite polarity, it will hit a point on earth instead. If the aircraft becomes part of the cloud-to-ground lightning event in this way, passengers and crew may see a flash and hear a loud bang.

According to a Boeing essay on lightning strike maintenance best practices, pilots have occasionally reported a temporary flickering of the lights or brief instrument interference on such occasions. Therefore, every circuitry and equipment essential to the safe flight and landing of the plane must have specific protection in the form of shielding, grounding, and surge suppression.

Meanwhile, Boeing also says that a strike of unusually high intensity has the potential to damage components such as electrically controlled fuel valves, generators, power feeders, and electrical distribution systems. When dealing with any form of a spark, flammable substances such as fuel need to be heavily protected.

The construction around aircraft fuel tanks must be thick enough to withstand a burn through from the lightning. All vents, access doors, and caps must adhere to lighting protection certification standards. These were raised after the last severe lightning strike accident happened when a Pan Am Boeing exploded in flight after vapors in the fuel tank ignited.

New fuels with less hazardous vapors have also become the norm.