Planes are designed to handle lightning. The current flows over the outer skin and out, and the plane is inspected afterward.
Frequency
Each commercial plane is hit by lightning about once a year on average.
Why safe
The metal skin conducts current around the cabin and out the other end. The fuel tanks are protected.
What passengers see
A flash and a loud bang. Some lights may flicker.
Checks
Pilots and mechanics inspect for damage.
Record
No US commercial crashes caused by lightning since 1967.
Fear
It’s usually not dangerous.
How often and why it is safe
Commercial airliners are struck by lightning on average about once per year, according to FAA and NASA data. Planes are designed so the metal skin conducts current around the cabin and out the other side, working like a Faraday cage. Fuel tanks have protections, and aircraft are certified for lightning strikes under FAA standards.
- Passengers may see a bright flash and hear a loud bang, with possible brief flicker of lights.
- The last known lightning-caused crash of a US airliner was in 1967 (Pan Am Flight 214), when a fuel tank vapor ignited. Design changes followed.
- Strikes often leave small burn marks at entry and exit points on the nose, wingtips or tail.
After a strike
Maintenance crews inspect the aircraft for damage, which can take hours, and some flights are diverted or cancelled for inspection. Pilots avoid thunderstorms using weather radar, and lightning strikes are most common while climbing or descending through 5,000 to 15,000 feet. Remain seated with the seat belt fastened. The risk of passenger injury from lightning is extremely low.
How often and why it is safe
Commercial aircraft are struck by lightning about once per year on average. The metal fuselage conducts the current around the cabin like a Faraday cage, and aircraft are designed and tested for strikes. No US commercial airliner crash has been attributed to lightning since 1967.
After a strike
Crews report the event and maintenance inspects entry and exit points for burn marks. Passengers may see a flash and hear a bang.
What lightning does to aircraft
Commercial aircraft are struck by lightning on average about once per year, according to the FAA and NASA. The aluminum or composite skin conducts the current around the cabin and off the aircraft, a principle like a Faraday cage. Lightning commonly enters through the nose or wingtip and exits through the tail.
Safety and effects
Aircraft are designed and certified to withstand lightning, with bonding, shielding, static wicks and protected fuel tanks. Passengers may see a flash and hear a loud bang, and small burn marks can appear on the skin. After a strike, crews inspect the aircraft, and minor damage is repaired. The last US commercial crash attributed to lightning was in 1967, a Pan Am 707 near Elkton, Maryland, which led to better protection. Pilots also use weather radar to avoid thunderstorms.
Based on data from the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA
